Chicken, cement shortage must be explained, says Concepcion

Industrialist and consumer advocate Raul Concepcion has called on former Trade Secretary Mar Roxas to enlighten the consumers on the apparent shortage of chicken and cement.

Concepcion said he was swamped with text messages on Dec. 23 and 24 as well calls from radio & TV stations asking for an explanation.

I thought it was just the usual last-minute shopping, but when my own family was complaining that there was no chicken to be found in the supermarkets and several friends who called up that there is no cement, then I really got concerned, Concepcion said.

"I have been working closely with Mar Roxas in the National Price Coordinating Council and I know how he was pushing very hard for the tax free importation of chicken to take care of the shortage for the Christmas holidays," he added.

"We want an explanation why we are encountering a tight supply situation of chicken and when will the supply and prices normalize," Concepcion said.

Concepcion said, that the cement manufacturers also appealed to the former secretary assuring him that there is no need to lower the duty on cement.

The cement industry has to explain the tight supply of cement and when will it ease, Concepcion said.

Concepcion has ask consumers to send a text of tight supply in chicken and cement stating the store to the Consumer & Oil Price Watch hotline 09178103363.