Some vendors have been forced to keep the price of chicken high even though its farmgate price is now lower.
According to some vendors, the business has suffered a lot after returning the enhanced community quarantine to the “National Capital Region (NCR) Plus” bubble.
They say this is because they make money from online deliveries.
“Dati 25 to 30 bags, ngayon nasa 15 na lang, kalahati na lang nawala. Kahit papaano sila ang nagpapalakas din, kasi madaming umoorder, kinukuha namin. Kaya malaking bagay yung nag-o-online,” said Carlos Gonzaga Jr, a businessman.
The price of chicken inasal at a restaurant has been raised by up to P10. They explained that it has not been said yet whether they will lower the price because they are said to be at a loss under the lockdown restrictions.
“Malaking epekto talaga ‘yung itong sa lockdown lalo na walang dine-in, malaking bagay kasi talaga ‘yung sa dine-in, compare mo sa take-out. Bumebenta kami ng medyo lumalagpas kami sa quota, ngayon ang laking baba, du’n na lang napunta sa pasahod or sa expenses ng store,” said Grace Gomez, supervisor of JT’s Manukan.
Also read: SRP on pork, poultry in Metro Manila, neighboring provinces studied
Some businesses can’t lower price of chicken even if farmgate prices fall
But some vendors at the Farmer’s Market in Cubao, Quezon City, are said to be following the farmgate price.
Based on the monitoring of the Department of Agriculture, the price of chicken is still P130 to P180 per kilo in some markets.
According to the United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA), the farmgate price of prime size chicken now stands at P76.71 – P45 per kilogram down from the P121.81 farmgate price on March 12.
UBRA explained that the farmgate price is still falling due to the pandemic, lockdown, and weak buying powers of consumers.
The price cap on chicken and pork will end on April 8, according to the DA.
The chicken has a problem with the price of pork, so it is being studied whether it will still have an SRP or a price cap.