• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana yesterday attributed the increase in prices of local eggs to inflation and the high cost of production, even though Negros Occidental has adequate supply.
Lemana reported that the extra large egg currently costs between P9.50 to P10.
Due to inflation, high cost of raw materials and supplements for chickens, she said that members of the Negros Layers Association have no other choice but to increase egg prices.
Lemana added that prices of eggs in smaller sizes increased minimally.
Negros Occidental produces 1.2 million eggs per day, while Negrenses consume 900,000 to one million per day, according to Lemana.
Aside from the local production, Negros Occidental bought 1.2 million eggs from Bantayan, Cebu, for the period from January 7 to 13. The previous month, egg suppliers in the province also purchased 7.4 million eggs from Bantayan.
The province, however, is not sourcing eggs and other poultry products from Panay and Guimaras provinces, and Mindanao because of Avian Influenza, known as Bird Flu.*
