The Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday that the prices of eggs may increase by 10 to 20 percent as the school opening nears.
According to the DA-Bantay Presyo (price watch), the price range of medium egg in Metro Manila is set from PHP5.50 to PHP9.
“Pagdating ng ‘ber’ months (September to December), normally nagti-trigger na ng panahon ng paglakas ng demand sa itlog at gaya ng nabanggit ko before, kapag ‘ber’ months at panahon ng pasukan (The start of the ‘ber’ months normally triggers the season of high egg demand, and just like what I said before, also during the opening of classes),” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an interview.
For school year 2024-2025, the Department of Education (DepEd) set the opening of classes on July 29.
Philippine Egg Board Association president Francis Uyehara, however, said that the price spikes have already started in some areas, considering the effects of “third quarter syndrome” -- or the disease outbreak period -- in which layers are affected by mortalities and decreased production.
“Nag-start na iyong pagtaas last month pa po, baka ito ay magdire-diretso (A price increase has already started last month, and it might continue) until the holiday season towards December,” he said in an earlier ambush interview on the sidelines of poultry forum at the SMX Convention center in Pasay City.
As of July, the prevailing farm gate price of medium egg is set at PHP6.46 per piece, higher than last month’s PHP6.07/pc, and PHP5.80/pc for the same month last year.
The current farm gate price for medium eggs is near the holiday season (September 2023 to January this year) range of PHP6.31/pc to PHP7.12/pc. (PNA)
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