AGDAO Public Market vendors observed that prices of chicken eggs have continued to increase in the past week due to several factors.
The vendors told SunStar Davao that the culling of chickens and exporting eggs to other parts of the country caused egg prices to increase.
Based on the price monitoring conducted by SunStar Davao on Thursday, prices of eggs per piece have increased by P0.25 to P0.50. Medium-sized eggs are now at P7.25/piece (pc) from P7/pc last week; large eggs at P7.50/pc from P7.25/pc; extra large eggs at P8/pc from P7.75/pc; and jumbo eggs at P8.50/pc from P8/pc. Organic eggs are being sold for P8/pc from P7.75/pc regardless of their size.
Medium-sized eggs now costs P205 per tray of 30 eggs from P195; large-sized eggs at P210 to P220/tray from P200 to P210/tray; extra large eggs at P220/tray from P210/tray; and jumbo at P235/tray from P225/tray.
“Shortage ang itlog karon, naay mga sakit ang mga manok tapos nag-culling pa (There’s a shortage of eggs now because some chickens are sick and others were culled),” Rachel Roble, a vendor, said.
“Actually kini amoa barato na ni, sa Manila ang medium-sized nga itlog, tag-onse na (Our eggs are cheaper here compared to Manila, their medium-sized eggs cost P11),” she added.
Meanwhile, Maricel Bernil, vendor, said aside from culling, suppliers had told them that eggs that are Davao-produced are being exported to other places in the country, such as in Manila and Cebu.
“Magkulang gyud ang egg sa Davao kay ipadala sa Luzon, pero ang atong supply sa Davao maingon nako, okay man unta (The supply of eggs in Davao are limited because some are being exported to Luzon, our supply here would have been enough),” Bernil said.
Egg volumer Larry Camenade said this is not the first time that the price of eggs increased. The last time they saw a continuing increase in the prices of eggs was at the height of the pandemic when demand for the product was high but the supply was limited.
However, he added egg prices will eventually drop once the culling stops and the remaining healthy chickens can produce sufficient eggs.
“Nihit kaayo karon kay demand kaayo ang itlog, pero pag Marso ani posible magbinagsakay na ang presyo (Right now our supply is limited but the demand is high. However, the prices may soon drop by March),” he said. ICE