Typhoon causes tight chicken supply in Philippines

Typhoon Glenda has caused a tight supply of chicken meat in Metro Manila, the Philippines, although agriculture officials are maintaining that there is no production shortage.

“Retail prices have indeed gone up slightly but we are monitoring the markets closely,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said in a statement.

Alcala acknowledged the temporary tightness of supply due to distribution issues following the destruction caused by the typhoon to livestock and poultry farms, whch amount to a total of about P2 billion. “During the fourth quarter, when the Christmas season comes, we will see the supply to be completely normal,” Alcala confirmed.

In an additional statement, Agriculture Undersecretary Jose Reaño said the DA would consider importation to help address the current tight supply. “But definitely, there is no shortage,” Reaño said, noting the availability of dressed chicken weighing 1.4 kilos to 1.6 kilos apiece. He said that such numbers showed that poultry producers could still afford to wait for the “right weight” before selling to traders.

The agriculture chief added that the Department of Agriculture has been considering tapping poultry-producing regions that was spared by Glenda. “We have observed surpluses in Central Luzon, Central Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula,” he said. “We are trying to find ways on how this could be brought into Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog.”