4.3 M kilos of chicken available this season

The Department of Agriculture assured the public yesterday of ample supply of chicken at stable prices this holiday season, as 2.8 million kilos of imported chicken started arriving in Metro Manila this week.

This will complement the 1.5 million kilos of frozen chicken inventoried in cold storage in Metro Manila, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap told a news forum.

"We would like to assure the public that there would be a sufficient supply of affordable chicken this holiday season," Yap said during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo.

He said the stocks in cold storage are replenished regularly and that his department will conduct regular monitoring of the supply and price of chickens to ensure that these remain stable.

Yap made the assurance after meeting with key executives of the Philippine Association of Broilers Integrators and the United Broilers Raisers Associations, which reported that their approved import volumes — meant to make up for losses incurred during typhoon "Milenyo" — have begun arriving in the country.

"A check with the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics showed that prices of frozen chicken in supermarkets were as low as P98 per kilo, while dressed chicken cost P110 in wet markets across Metro Manila, indicating a stable price," Yap said. — Perseus Echeminada