Broiler raisers want Marcos to reduce chicken imports to encourage local production

The United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) wants a dialogue with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who also sits as secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), to air their concerns and recommendations for the local poultry industry.

In an interview on Dobol B TV on Saturday, UBRA chairman Gregorio San Diego, who also chairs the Philippine Egg Board Association, said the local poultry sector held back or reduced production due to an influx of chicken imports, which was supposedly meant to bring down prices.

The influx of imports discouraged local producers which eventually affected local supply, according to San Diego.

However, he admitted that importation cannot be totally stopped because of the low supply situation.

“Ang sitwasyon kasi natin ngayon hindi naman natin kara-karaka itigil, kasi umatras ang local production ngayon eh,” San Diego said.

(The situation now is that we cannot immediately stop importation because local production was held back.)

The UBRA chair said the local poultry stakeholders want a dialogue with Marcos.

“Makipag-usap sa amin para makita niya [Marcos] kung gaano kalalim ang problema na iniwan nitong nakaraang administrasyon as far as agriculture is concerned. Sasabihin namin sa kanya kung ano ang katayuan namin ngayon at ano ang maitutulong niya sa amin,” he said.

(Talk to us so that he will know how deep is the problem left by the previous administration as far as agriculture is concerned. We will tell him our situation and what he can do to help us.)

San Diego said they will recommend to the President to “recalibrate” importation.

“‘Yung importasyon a little lower sa kailangan para ma-incentivize ang local production,” he said.

(Importation should be a little lower than what is needed to incentivize local production.)

“Bawasan nang konti at magdagdag paunti-unti ang local production,” he added.

(Reduce it a little bit so the local industry can increase production.) —KG, GMA News