Solon alarmed over egg ‘shortage’ due to bird flu
INSISTING the need for the Department of Agriculture (DA) to do its job seriously, Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, January 20, 2023, said the DA needs to step up and swiftly address the escalating egg prices on the market before things take a “turn for the worse” not only in the egg industry but also for low-income households that rely on eggs as their cheapest protein source.
According to Hontiveros, the recent bird flu outbreak in Luzon, coupled with the high cost of feeds, has been blamed for the shortage of eggs that caused prices to soar.
According to reports based on the statement given by Philippine Egg Board, the bird flu led to another culling of seven million chickens, drastically cutting egg production.
Hontiveros said this is “alarming,” considering the fact that we cannot just import eggs from other countries.
“Hindi gaya sa manok, baboy, asukal, mais, bigas at sibuyas, bulok na ang itlog bago pa dumating dito sa bansa. Kaya hindi na uubra ang easy way out na importation kapag nagkukulang ng suplay at tumataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin. Dapat handa at may mabilis na mekanismo ang DA para sa distribution ng ayuda sa magmamanok upang ‘di na kumalat ang problems,” Hontiveros was quoted as saying.
It was also learned that the Avian influenza outbreak could also be considered the source of egg scarcity and soaring prices in the market today.
It was also learned that recently, there was an “outbreak” of bird flu in Batangas in an eco-farm involving ducks, but it was contained immediately.
The farm gate price of eggs in the province ranged between P6.90 and P7 per piece, while the retail price of eggs in the wet markets in Metro Manila ranged between P8 to P9 per piece.
Hontiveros said the DA should pull all the necessary resources to help egg producers before it’s “too late.”
“Huwag nating hayaan na maging isang kahig, isang tuka, hindi lang ang poultry industry kundi pati ang ating mga kababayan na itlog na lang ang ginagawang panlaman tiyan dahil sa nagtataasang presyo ng karne at iba pang bilihin,” Hontiveros stressed.
