ILOILO City – With more than two months until Christmas, egg prices in some public markets in Western Visayas are already experiencing a rise.
The increase, however, remains minimal and is measured in mere centavos this October compared to previous months, according to local vendors.
In a survey conducted by Panay News at various public markets in Iloilo City, including the Iloilo Central Market and Iloilo Terminal Market, a small uptick in egg prices was noted.
Alan, an egg vendor at the Iloilo Central Market, reported a gradual increase in prices since last month. “The price rise has been in centavos, but even this small amount is significant for me,” Alan said in Hiligaynon.
He mentioned that last month, egg prices ranged from P9 to P10 per piece depending on size, but this month the prices have varied from P7 to P11.
As the holiday season nears, Alan has observed an increase in demand and expressed uncertainty about maintaining a sufficient supply for December, a peak month due to the high use of eggs in cakes and other pastries.
“The demand is high, but the supply isn’t keeping up. That’s why the prices are going up as the eggs vary with the demand,” he added.
Alan sources his eggs from the province of Iloilo.
Similarly, Toto Boko, another vendor at the Iloilo City Terminal Market, confirmed the price increase this October compared to the previous month.
“Now, prices don’t drop below P8 to P11, depending on the size,” Boko said.
He obtains his egg supply from Taala Farm in Bacolod City and anticipates further price hikes during the holiday season due to increased demand.
Inday from the City Proper noted a 10- to 20-centavo increase in egg prices this month, with the lowest price now at P8.75 and the highest at P11.
Inday’s eggs are supplied from Santa Barbara, Iloilo.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Western Visayas, through its Bantay Presyo program, a price monitoring activity for agricultural commodities, reported that as of October 9, the price of medium-sized eggs was P10 per piece at the Central Market, P9.50 at Alibhon Market in Jordan, Guimaras, and also P9.50 at Kalibo Public Market. These prices reflect little to no change compared to the rates on September 30.
Maria Teresa Solis, chief of the DA-6 Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, projected further price increases as the holiday season approaches due to rising demand.
“We expect prices to rise, though hopefully not too significantly so that consumers won’t feel too much of a pinch,” Solis said.
Francis Uyehara, president of the Philippine Egg Board Association (PEBA), also highlighted the expected continual rise in retail prices of eggs through December, driven by heightened demand during the holiday season and existing supply issues.
He explained that the farmgate price for medium-sized eggs currently ranges from P7 to P7.50 each.
“Based on our projections, the retail price for medium-sized eggs will be between P8.50 and P9,” Uyehara added during a radio interview on DZBB.
The PEBA president noted a decrease in egg production over the summer, worsened by the El Niño phenomenon, leading to a current supply shortage and subsequent price increases.
He also mentioned ongoing efforts to increase production to mitigate price hikes toward December.
“It takes at least six months to raise chicken layers to start producing eggs. Our repopulation started in June, and we expect additional birds to help boost production by December,” Uyehara said./PN
