Poultry group says chicken imports hurting local growers

A poultry group expressed dismay at the influx of imported chicken in the country, saying it has caused the local industry huge losses.

Atty. Jose Inciong, president of the United Broiler Raisers' Association, on Saturday said "record-high" chicken imports have hurt the local industry.

"Du'n sa importasyon, lalo kaming nasaktan, lalo kaming lumulubog... Simula nung September marami nang nalugi," Inciong said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Nu'ng August may proposal na gawing zero ang tariff ng lahat ng agricultural products. Tinanggal ang special safeguards under WTO [World Trade Organization] na meron ang manok kaya maraming nakapasok na imported," he said.

"Marami na 'yung local [supply], nadagdagan pa ng imported," Inciong added.

The prices of chicken may have decreased, he said, but consumers did not benefit.

"Ginagawang bayani ng mga ekonomista ang importasyon... Hindi naman nakinabang ang mga mamimili," Inciong said.

He added that economists should have asked the local sector first on how to address the effects of inflation rather than implementing zero tariff on chicken imports.

Inciong said UBRA will have an emergency meeting to discuss the matter further. —KG, GMA News