The Philippine Competition Commission said the move by the poultry sub-sector to collectively raise the price of chicken to a single price across all raisers and producers is anti-competitive and illegal.
PCC chairman Arsenio Balisacan said while the PCC recognizes the Agriculture Department’s efforts to assist poultry raisers, an agreement among competitors to collectively raise prices is considered anti-competitive and illegal under the Philippine Competition Act.
“To address the concerns of poultry raisers and avoid harm to consumers, it is more efficient to allow producers to independently adjust their own prices or output,” Balisacan said.
He also advised concerned agencies might consider pro-competitive forms of assistance, such as access to agricultural credit or the provision of research and extension services to boost the productivity of poultry raisers.
The Agriculture Department supported the move of poultry raisers to impose a one-price scheme in chicken price to save raisers from losses and address the sporadic drop in the price of chicken due to smuggling.