Local chicken supply enough, supplier assures public

There is enough chicken supply to address the country's demand, local supplier Vitarich Corp. assured the public over the weekend, ahead of the upcoming holiday season.

According to Vitarich food sales manager for Luzon Joey Macaraeg, the country has enough chicken supplies that have more than doubled from last year, with the industry well-prepared to cater to the needs of the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic and even with the recent typhoons that hit the country.

"The chicken industry has prepared itself for the unusual demand for chicken and chicken products this year in spite of all that the Philippines has gone through," he said.

Vitarich's primary products include feed products sold to various distributors and dealers and end users nationwide; day old chicks; and chicken and dory fish sold to hotels, restaurants, institutional clients, and supermarkets and wet markets.

It has operating offices in Luzon, Iloilo, and Davao, and satellite offices in Southern Philippines.

Latest data available from the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) shows that as of October 26, 2020, the country had a total of 82,561.55 metric tons (MT) of dressed chicken in cold storages -- 37,305.13 MT local, and 45,256 MT imported.

This compares with the 23,551.31 MT recorded the same period last year comprising 8,453.94 MT local and 15,097.38 MT imported.

The figures do not include fresh chilled chicken, and only covers data from accredited facilities. The inventory already in distribution channels are not included.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), however, shows that poultry production fell by 7.2% in the third quarter of the year. —LBG, GMA News