Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy S. Co urged Agriculture Secretary William Dar to hold liable any BAI official found unduly favoring importers of chicken over local producers.
“The poultry producers deserve to be heard and be assured that the government is doing its share to combat the problem arising from high levels of importation of poultry’s products, while we are experiencing an oversupply of broilers in the market,” said Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, chairman of the agriculture and food panel.
Co, a member of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, noted that the unabated chicken importation has flooded the local market with chicken meat from unknown foreign sources which could pose health hazards to consumers, aside from imperiling long-term food security. According to Co BAI officials failed to show evidence of overpricing or even lack of local supply to justify more imports.