Alternative suppliers eyed: DA downplays warnings on looming egg shortage

CEBU, Philippines - While Cebu 4th district Representative Benhur Salimbangon raised a warning about the looming shortage of egg supply, both the Department of Agriculture – Region-7 and the Cebu Bakery Association clarified that there has been no reports yet as to the scarcity of eggs in the market.

A big part of  the Visayas may have a scarcity of egg supply following the grave devastation caused by super typhoon “Yolanda” in Bantayan Island which is considered the “egg basket” in the region.

Congressman Salimbangon earlier warned about the shortage of eggs following his aerial survey of Bantayan Island where he saw the damage in residential and agricultural properties.

Bantayan Island, which is composed of the municipalities of Bantayan, Madridejos and Santa Fe, produces more than 100 tons of eggs per day or 1.6 million eggs, to be distributed to mainland Cebu, Negros, Panay and Leyte.

Gerry Avila, officer-in-charge for agribusiness and marketing assistance division of DA-7, shared that everybody has to be careful in spreading word about egg shortage so as not to create panic among the consuming public.

The agricultural department recently convened with livestock groups and egg vendors and found out that there is stable supply and no price increase of eggs in the market.

Avila said that Bantayan Island accounts 80 percent of contribution in egg supply for the Cebu province.

He cited that the entire Cebu produces a volume of 35,440 metric tons in a year of which 28,352 metric tons come from Bantayan alone.

Assuming that the whole Bantayan Island is totally wiped out, he said that it might incur a volume deficit of 10 to 12 percent in the egg supply which is equivalent to 4,136 metric tons of eggs if it could take a year for the area to fully recover.

Media reports say that houses, establishments and poultry farms in Bantayan Island were badly damaged after the super typhoon struck.

“But if  it takes them only six months to recover, we will only incur a deficit of 2,068 metric tons for the next six months,” Avila continued.

Based on the latest monitoring report of the government agency, he said that there has been a stability of the prices and supply of eggs in the market.

The Carbon Public Market, considered to be the biggest market in the province, still sells an average of P 5 per egg.

Avila added that egg vendors usually have stocks of eggs that is good for one to two weeks of supply.

He said that the initial assessment of DA-7 in the typhoon-hit areas will  be consolidated with the provincial report to come up with a final report to be sent to the central office.

He further noted that the public need not to worry since the province has other egg suppliers especially from the southern part of Cebu such as San Fernando and Argao.

They are also eyeing the Northern Mindanao region particularly Cagayan de Oro for alternative sources of  eggs.

Cebu Bakery Association (CEBA) President Elizabeth Go supported DA’s statements, saying that they have not received reports yet from members having difficulty of buying eggs in the market.

She shared that most of the bakery owners usually order eggs ahead of time that is good for one week.

She cited that bakeries that are solely engaged into baking bread uses one to two eggs for every kilo of  flour that could already produce about 90 pieces of pandesal with an average weight of 20 to 30 grams.

Those engaged into baking pastries and cakes, on the other hand, usually uses a maximum of eight eggs especially in making chiffon cakes, silvanas, brazo de mercedes and tarts. 

Go, however, expressed her concern that they may encounter problems on egg supply in the market once the Christmas season is at its peak.

The association of bakery owners in Cebu celebrated the World Bread Day last October 16 by giving out bread and biscuits to the earthquake victims in Bohol last month.

Also, CEBA is sending relief goods to the typhoon victims in Cebu and Leyte in coordination with the Philippine Red Cross.

CEBA has 70 active members in Cebu City./JOB (FREEMAN)