MANILA – A group of chicken farmers criticized the Department of Agriculture (DA) for continuing to allow the importation of poultry products which has affected the local farmers’ livelihood.
United Broilers and Raisers Association president Atty. Jose Elias Inciong lamented that the DA allegedly failed to support the local chicken producers.
“Diretsahan na tayo, wala,” said Inciong over Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday after he was asked if the DA has been helping them with the chicken production.
“Napipinsala po kami, baboy man ‘yan, o manok kapag tinutulungan ang importasyon ng baboy, apektado lahat ‘yan,” Inciong further said.
According to him, imported poultry products from America, Europe, and Canada are cheaper because they are being subsidized by their government’s agriculture system. He stated that in the Philippines, local chicken farmers are not supported by the DA.
Filipino farmers are also competing not only with imported products but also with the Philippine government.
“Tayo dito ang kalaban namin ‘yung nag-aalaga ng manok don, ‘yung gobyerno nila at paminsan talaga ‘yung gobyerno natin kalaban na rin namin dahil binababaan pa nila ‘yung taripa minsan, kaya ho wala tayong magagawa dyan eh,” he pointed out.
“Nalulugi na ang chicken farmers dahil malaki ang binababa ng farm gate prices dahil sa pagdating ng importasyon,” he added.
Recently, Sen. Francis Pangilinan has urged that pork tariffs rates be reverted to original 20 percent to 30 percent levels as pork prices remained high even as lower tariffs were imposed on imports.
He also lamented that the tariff rates made hog raisers suffer.(GMA News)
