“Based on our monitoring, [the current price of] chicken is P180 per kilo in both northern and southern parts of the province,” Decena said, adding that they conduct price monitoring weekly to ensure that the costs of the poultry products remain stable.
He said the province has enough supply of chicken and pork, too.
In fact, there is an oversupply of chicken in the province unlike in other provinces, particularly in Cebu because of trade restrictions due to bird flu, Decena also said.
Consumers are speculating that because of higher transport cost due to fuel price hike and the lack of supply that cannot meet the demand, the price increase happens and prevails in the country now.
But Decena explained that such a problem is not happening especially in Western Visayas because “we have improved chicken or free range chicken which is being utilized by the local government units.”
“Colored chicken is widely used by the local government units (LGUs) and every week we disperse 500 chicks (two weeks old) in support of white chicken,” he said.
The 30,000 heads daily chicken consumption of Negros Occidental are produced in the province so the supply is enough, Decena added.
In terms of pork, Negros Occidental has enough and even had a surplus supply.
But the increase of price due to high cost of feeds has been preempted, the provincial veterinarian also said.
Meanwhile, Decena said that he will be retiring from service on June 30, 2022 after serving the province for 38 years.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson also confirmed that Decena will be hired as provincial consultant for food security after his retirement.
The province is still looking for his replacement.