Egg prices go up

The cost of another staple on the Filipino breakfast table, eggs, has gone up, GMA News' “24 Oras” reported on Monday.

 

According to the report, the prices of eggs increased at the Balintawak Market in Quezon City as well as in the markets in Ilocos Norte, Albay and Kidapawan City.

 

As of Monday, the prices of eggs at the Balintawak Market are now at P4.50 to P4.90 per piece from P4 to P4:50 per piece last week, or now at P135 to P146 per tray from P125 to P140 per tray last week.

 

“Kokonti talaga, walang gaanong makuha. Kulang. 'Pag kumuha ka nga minsan three days pa bago mo makuha,” egg vendor Malou Soliman said to illustrate the high demand for eggs.

 

In Kidapawan City prices of eggs increased by as much as P5 per tray. Some consumers are now buying the much cheaper slightly broken eggs at P10 for three pieces, the report said. 

 

In Ilocos Norte, the prices of eggs depending on their size have been increasing for the past several weeks, the report added.

 

According to some suppliers, the increase was due to higher prices of poultry feeds.

The price of pork and chicken had also increased recently. 

 

The increase in pork prices, according to Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., was due to an outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea in piglets, especially in the United States, one of the pork importers in the Philippins.

 

Poulty raisers, meanwhile, blamed the hike in chicken prices to the hot weather last summer, which slowed down the growth of chickens.

 

Prices of commercial rice and garlic had also increased this month. Prices of commercial rice rose by P2 per kilo starting at P40 per kilogram while the price garlic remained high for the third week at P300 to P320 per kilo.

 

Amid the rising prices of basic food commodities, militant groups held a rally in front of Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday.

 

“May natitira na lang siyang (President Benigno Aquino III) dalawang taon. Aber ipakita niya. Itong ginawa niya, naglagay na naman ng bagong tao, tingin ko paghahabol 'yan na ewan namin kung may mangyayari,” said Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmie De Jesus, apparently referring to Secretary Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who was appointed by Aquino as the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization.

 

Pangilinan on Monday conducted an inspection at the Commonwealth Market to check the prices and supply of rice.

 

“We have already suspended (erring rice dealers) and some are now being summoned. If they are guilty then their licenses will be cancelled,” Pangilinan said.

 

The National Food Authority (NFA) set up more accredited outlets and double the supply to its stores from 25,000 bags a day from 12,500 bags a day to neutralize the prices of commecial rice.

 

“'Yung prices nag-soften na. We are expecting by this week kung hindi man bababa 'yan. Hindi pa rin mag fu-further na mag-increase,” NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said.

 

The DA aims to double the production of garlic which was usually around 11,000 metric tons per year, “24 Oras” reported. The DA also mulled putting suggested retail price on garlic to stop the series of increases.

 

Prices of diesel and gasoline are also expected to go up to as high as P1 to P1.50 per liter this week due to the rising tension in Iraq, the Department of Energy confirmed. —Elizabeth Marcelo/NB/KG, GMA News