Egg prices rise due to bird flu, increased holiday demand

MANILA, Philippines, December 1 ------ The bird flu outbreak and the increased holiday demand are among the factors to blame for the increase of egg prices in several areas, said the chair of the Philippine Egg Board (PEB).

PEB chair Gregorio San Diego said in an interview on Sakto that areas were impacted differently, and the farm prices of eggs might not be the same everywhere. “Sa Batangas, kahapon, yung medium nila—yung basihan namin yung medium ito kasi yung pinaka maraming size na pinoproduce ng manok—P6.20. Pero sa Bulacan at Pampanga, kung saan marami yung nagsara na farms dahil nga sa sakit at nalugi din yung iba, nasa P7 na, yun na ang presyo,” said San Diego.

He explained that the uptick has been ongoing for two weeks. “Ito siguro sa kadahilanan na kokonti na lang ang production, pagkatapos, medyo tumaas yung demand dahil magpapasko na. Maraming mga produkto na ginagamitan ng itlog kamukha ng leche flan, cake, yung mga yan. Kaya medyo tumaas yung presyo, pero sa monitor namin, yung sa farm, hindi naman kasing laki ng taas sa retail,” explained San Diego.

Another reason for the price increase, San Diego said, is the rising costs of bird feeds, which have become a heavy burden on local poultry farmers. “Ang problema pa hindi ni-regulate ng Department of Agriculture. Dumami nang dumami yung pumasok sa negosyo ng itlog kaya noong last quarter ng last year, nag-umpisa nang malugi yung mga farmers at ang karamihan sa tumigil ay yung mga small at medium na producers,” said San Diego.

Source: inquirer.net