Egg prices drop slightly amid high demand ­– DA

MANILA, Philippines — A slight drop in the retail price of eggs was recorded amid an increase in demand during the holiday season, according to data from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Based on DA’s monitoring of Metro Manila markets, the retail price of medium-sized eggs ranged between P7.50 and P8.50 per piece, compared to the previous P7.50 to P8.80 per piece on Dec. 1, or a P0.30 decrease.

United Broiler Raisers Association and Philippine Egg Board (PEB) chair Gregorio San Diego confirmed that there was a decline in the cost of eggs as farmgate prices also went down.

“Yes (there was a decrease in retail prices) as the farmgate level also went down,” San Diego told The STAR.

He attributed the downward trend in the retail prices of eggs to the low demand.

As for the threat of bird flu, he said that many egg producers decided to slow down their production as the DA and the Bureau of Animal Industry have yet to approve the avian flu vaccine.

The retail price of whole chicken ranged between P140 and P220 per kilo; pork ham, between P250 and P340 per kilo; and pork liempo, between P280 and P400 per kilo.