SRP's unnecessary price of chicken

Agriculture Department has decided against setting a suggested retail price for chicken, noting that the market cost for it is "normalizing”, a government press release said.

"SRP's unnecessary price of chicken is already seeking its own level," DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said.

He also noted that the nationwide supply of chicken is sufficient to meet domestic demand so there's no reason for price of this produce to shoot up and for government to import the commodity at this time.

The DA has reported that nationwide frozen chicken supply as of June 28 is about 7,642 metric tons, approximating what this was the year earlier.

Alcala announced DA's decision amidst complaints chicken price surged to some P140 per kilogram following the latest fish kill episodes in Taal Lake and Pangasinan province.

"We traced such surge to the fish scare - perhaps some sellers wanted to make a killing and sold at higher prices," he said.

Alcala noted local poultry stakeholders are supporting the no-SRP decision for chicken, the press release said.