A farm in Candaba, Pampanga is forced to discard dozens of eggs, balut, and penoy as high petroleum prices hinder sales and transportation, highlighting the financial strain on local producers.
A significant number of eggs, balut, and penoy are being thrown away at a farm in Barangay Paligui, Candaba, Pampanga after failing to sell them due to the soaring cost of petroleum. Sellers report that no buyers are picking up their products, and those who usually deliver have stopped due to the steep prices of diesel fuel. Timothy Dayandante, a farm employee, warned that continued increases in diesel prices could lead to farm closures and appealed to the government to find solutions to stabilize the situation. To avoid waste, some products are being given away for free, although overall demand has sharply declined.
Market prices for eggs have dropped by 10 to 20 pesos per tray in some Metro Manila markets such as Blumentritt, yet buyers remain scarce because transportation costs remain high. Egg dealers like William Payumo note that what used to sell out in three days now takes up to one to two weeks, with customers buying fewer eggs per purchase.
Prices in Mega Q Mart, Quezon City remain steady across egg sizes, from P8 to P10 each. Attempts to obtain comments from the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Egg Board Association have yet to succeed. Latest Department of Agriculture monitoring puts white chicken egg prices generally between just over P6 to nearly P10, depending on size.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/balita/983526/mga-itlog-balut-at-penoy-itinatapon-na-lang-nang-di-maibenta-dahil-sa-taas-ng-presyo-ng-petrolyo/story/
