The Department of Agriculture (DA) is hoping to seal deals for the export of poultry as well as vegetables to other Asian countries, according to Secretary, Proceso J. Alcala, reports Malaya.

Mr Alcala said the Philippines and South Korea are finalising a deal for the export of chicken meat.

"We must take advantage (of the fact) that we are bird-flu-free so we have the capability to supply to other countries," he said.

The Philippines remains one of the countries that are free of avian influenza (AI), commonly known as bird flu, an infectious disease in chickens, ducks, and other birds caused by different subtypes of the influenza A virus.

"These favourable conditions offer us a better fighting chance in our bid to become a reliable source of quality livestock products, notably for the global halal market," Mr Alcala said, referring to the Islamic-certified method of preparing meat.

However, Mr Alcala revealed that there is no export volume as of yet for chicken exports to Korea. He added that officials from the embassy of Korea will do the validation and ocular inspection.

The DA is trying to open up more export markets for Philippine poultry growers following a production boom that has caused local farm-gate prices to drop.

The Philippines is now 93 per cent self-sufficient in poultry production, according to DA data, reports Malaya. The Philippines currently exports processed chicken in the form of yakitori or nuggets to Japan.