Chopping Down the Chicken Cartel

Skyrocketing prices of poultry in recent weeks is a clear indication that the government is powerless against the cartel. A handful of poultry breeders have deliberately controlled supply to rake in more profits, without considering the effects on consumers.

Ironically, the state even helped facilitate this shameful practice. The directorate-general of livestock and animal health openly supported the agreement among 12 poultry breeders to cull 6 million parent stock broilers. In the deal signed on September 14 last year, the breeders also agreed to destroy 40 percent of hatching eggs.