Price of eggs seen to hit P10 to P15 apiece

The price of eggs is expected to P10 up to P15 per piece amid supply shortage and threat of bird flu, the Egg Council of the Philippines (ECP) said in Victoria Tulad’s report on “24 Oras."

Agap party-list Representative Nicanor Briones, who is also the group's chairman, said several retailers shifted into selling eggs amid problems in the hog and poultry industries.

However, Briones said this caused an oversupply in eggs that led to the closure of some farms.

“Kaya marami ang umatras, marami nagsarado, nagbenta ng farm, nagbawas ng alaga kaya ngayon tayo ay may kakulangan sa supply ng itlog, kaya ang bilis ngayong tumaas,” Briones said.

(Many have closed down, sold their farm, or reduced their poultry. Now we have a shortage of eggs and price spikes fast.)

He said that the threat of bird flu is also the concern of egg producers.

“Doon sa aming bayan sa San Jose, mayroon kaming hindi bababang 10 million eggs a day na hina-harvest. Kung ‘yan ay mapapasok, ang lalawagin ng Batangas, sigurado ‘yung P10 to P15 hanggang next year ay mangyayari,” he added.

(In San Jose town, we harvest at least 10 million eggs a day. If bird flu will enter our town, the province of Batangas, price of eggs will certainly increase to P10 up to P15 until next year.)

Meanwhile, Briones noted that the farmgate price of eggs has increased to 50 centavos up  to P2 this month.

Vendors feel price hike

Food vendors and egg retailers said they are left with no choice but to sell food at a higher price because of the high cost of eggs.

“Dati ang kuha namin P130 lang (sa isang tray ng itlog) ngayon ang kinukuha namin mismo nasa P190 na,” Ramon Santos, a food stall owner said.

(Before, we could get a tray of eggs for P130 but now it's P190.)

Josephine Jimenez, an egg vendor, said she now sells a piece of egg at P6.50.

“Nagkaroon ng bird flu sa ibang lugar, tumaas ang gasolina, marami rin kasing farm ang nagsara dahil sa taas ng fees,” Jimenez stated.

(There was bird flu in other places, fuel prices went up, many farms closed due to high fees.)

The price of quail eggs has similarly gone up from P1.77 per piece to P2 this month.

Richard Sumiguin, a kwek-kwek vendor, said he now sells his kwek-kwek, batter-coated quail eggs P5 higher.

Mitigation

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) officer-in-charge Director Reildrin Morales said the bureau is working hard to come up with a solution to mitigate the possible spread of bird flu in the country.

“Lahat po ay ating ginagawa para sa bagay na ito. Ang mga areas na may outbreak ay bantay-sarado na. Nagri-risk mapping din tayo,” Morales said.

(We are doing everything to address this. Areas with outbreaks have been guarded closely. We are also doing risk-mapping.)

Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said that production costs of egg producers have a ripple effect on retail prices.

“’Yung kuryente, ‘yung feed po na pinapakain nila doon sa manok para mangitlog… dapat talagang tuunan ng pansin ay ‘yung pagbaba ng production cost,” Evangelista stressed.

(Electricity, feeds… we should really focus on lowering the production cost.)

Evangelista also disclosed that they are planning to roll out more Kadiwa stores that will sell eggs at P7 per piece.

DA Region 11, meanwhile, assured that it is setting up strategies to ensure enough supply in the region.—Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF, GMA News