Prices of chicken meat have dropped in Mangaldaan, Pangasinan, due to an oversupply in the market, according to local vendors and agricultural monitors.

Chicken meat now sells for only P180 to P200 at the Mangaldaan Public Market, down from the previous P220 to P230 per kilo.

Vendors said producers are delivering chicken at lower farm gate prices because of abundant supply.

“Maraming suplay ngayon, marami talaga ang problema. Mahina nagbentahan,” Merly Casandig, a vendor, said.

According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), the decrease was caused by simultaneous harvests from many poultry producers who raised chickens in recent months. SINAG is also monitoring the possible entry of imported chicken, which could be affecting local prices.

“Continuous naman ang harvest ng local producers. Tini-check namin ang import kung lumaki; kung lumaki ‘yun, ‘yun siguro ang problema na nagbaba ang presyo ng sobra o mas mababa doon sa farm gate price,” Engr. Rosendo So, SINAG chairman, said.

Despite the price drop, SINAG assured the public that there will be enough chicken supply during the “Ber” months and the coming holiday season.

“Mas mababa doon sa labas, may P170–P180. Sana huwag nang tataas pa ang presyo ng manok,” Nieva Aquino, a shopper, said.

Based on SINAG’s latest monitoring, the farm gate price of chicken in Luzon ranges from P95 to P98 per kilo, while market prices across Pangasinan remain between P180 and P210 per kilo.