Senator hits plan to import chicken parts

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. opposed yesterday the proposal of Trade Secretary Manuel Roxas II to allow big poultry and food companies to import chicken parts to meet an expected strong demand next month.

He said importing chicken parts will adversely affect local broiler producers, especially the small ones.

Besides, it "has no add-on effect on the economy, compared to buying local," he said.

"Patronizing local chicken benefits not only the poultry industry but other allied industries as well. We would be the biggest losers if our own broiler producers close shop," he added.

Roxas proposed the importation of chicken in the wake of a slight rise in chicken prices in wet markets.

Villar said there is a possibility that the price increase does not reflect a tight supply situation and could be the handiwork of unscrupulous traders who are taking advantage of the coming Christmas season.

Traders are blaming typhoon Harurot, which hit the country in July and destroyed thousands of hectares of corn, a major animal feed ingredient, for the P10-P15 increase in chicken prices.

But Villar said he has information that the government allowed feed producers to import corn to cover whatever local produce destroyed by Harurot. – Jess Diaz