The Manila Times

Bird flu may affect egg supply – group

PHILIPPINE Egg Board Association Chairman Gregorio San Diego on Thursday warned of a possible shortage of egg supply because of a global bird flu outbreak.

“It (shortage) is possible as we are having difficulties in sourcing our breeder amid the outbreak of bird flu worldwide,” San Diego said in a radio interview, noting that the Philippines’ supply of broiler breeder eggs comes from Spain and Belgium.

“Aside from the breeder, we also import hatching eggs, mostly from Spain and Belgium, but the two countries are both affected by the bird flu,” he added.

San Diego dismissed claims that the price of egg could reach P15 per piece.

“The warning of our fellow egg producer that the retail price of egg could reach P15 per piece only helped traders to increase their prices in the market. Just like what I said before, this is not possible as if you compute eggs per kilo at P15 per piece, it will reach P248, more expensive than chicken, consumers will no longer buy eggs,” he added.

San Diego said that the retail price of eggs in the local market was increasing despite a decline in farm gate prices.

“The farm gate price of medium eggs even dropped to P5.50 from P6.20, or a decline of 70 centavos, but based on our monitoring the prevailing price of eggs in the market is between P8 [and] P9 per piece,” he added, noting that traders dictate farm gate prices.

“We only follow the movement in the market as if we increase our prices, traders will just buy from other egg producers,” San Diego said, noting retailers were forced to sell their eggs at higher prices to recoup their capital.

San Diego, also the chairman of the United Broilers Raisers Association, reported that the farm gate price of chicken ranges from P121 to P126 per kilo.

“Every two weeks, there is a movement in the farm gate price of chicken, despite it is not felt in the local market. If the farm gate price of chicken increases, after two weeks it will go down so there is a cycle in the last two months,” he said.

Government’s daily monitoring on Thursday said the retail price of chicken ranges from P170 to P200 per kilo.

San Diego warned that smuggling of imported chicken into the country persists.

“During our meeting with the President (Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.), I told him that he promised to address the rampant importation of chicken, and I showed him the arrival of importation and he was surprised, and he even commented, ‘what is happening,’” he said.

“The President should use an iron fist as he is still surrounded by subordinates who are doing different things,” San Diego added.

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2022-10-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/281801402855330

The Manila Times