How importation impacts poultry prices and Filipino consumers

The government needs to communicate why importation is good for both the country and the consumer, an agriculture sector insider said.

There are, at most, a million Filipinos dependent on raising chicken for a livelihood, said Ronald Daniel R. Mascariñas, former president and general manager of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc.

“If you’re the government, whose interest will you serve? The one million Filipinos” or the rest of the population?, he asked.

“Bakit mo pipilitin ang ordinary Filipino to buy P160-P200 na chicken?” he asked BusinessWorld in the sidelines of an event by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development.

“If they liberalize importation…chicken will be available for P40-60 per kilo. Anong ginhawa ang mabibigay mo sa masang Pilipino [should that happen]?”

Interview by Patricia Mirasol
Video editing by Richard Mendoza