Yap: Chicken prices to stabilize in 2 wks
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/01/2009 9:36 AM
Printer-friendly version | 
Send to friend | 
Share your views
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap on Wednesday explained that the prices of chicken meat increased because of the sudden shift of market-goers from pork.
Yap said there is no need for the government to control the price of chicken products in the market as it is expected to stabilize in two weeks.
"Babalik naman po sa price level in two weeks. May increase ng demand. Pumupunta sa chicken ang mga kababayan natin (It will go back to price level in two weeks. There is an increase in demand. Consumers are shifting to chicken)," Yap told ABS-CBN's morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda."
Reports said a kilo of chicken has significantly increased to P150 to P160 or P10-P20 lower than a kilo of pork in local markets.
The United Broiler Raisers Association said the prices of live chicks have increased from P18 to P30.
The group said the increasing prices of live chicks and feeds are among the reasons of the increasing prices of chicken meat in the market.
Yap said chicken prices might drop by P3 to P5 next week. "Within two weeks the prices will go down," he reiterated.
President Arroyo has ordered Yap to extend more assistance to hog growers in the country because of the decreasing demand of pork.
The government believes consumers are avoiding pork because of the Ebola Reston and influenza A(H1N1) virus a.k.a. "swine flu."
Arroyo also ordered Yap to increase the agriculture department's information program to remind people that the new influenza virus has not affected hog products in the country.
Comments