According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), there will be a possible shortage of eggs in the Philippines by April 2024. Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. blamed the looming crisis on the decrease in the country’s poultry populations after poultry farmers’ losses last year and fears of bird flu.
According to Tiu Laurel, weak demand for eggs in 2024 and low prices led to an oversupply that prompted most producers to depopulate their laying hens, which in turn has led to fears regarding future supply.
To avoid a price hike after a potential egg shortage, DA is implementing measures to stabilize supply. Given past industry losses, the secretary said, actions are designed to buffer these effects and avoid a similar crisis as the current egg shortage ongoing in the United States due to a bird flu outbreak that has led to the culling of millions of laying hens.
While the Philippines has so far avoided a bird flu outbreak, Tiu Laurel is confident the DA can contain such threats. The agency is currently intensifying the importation of breeder chickens to reduce any potential impact from supply shortages while also urging the Food and Drug Administration to quickly approve avian influenza vaccines.
The DA is also pursuing the Php300 million fund under the National Livestock Program for all interventions, including vaccine efficacy tests and planning for large-scale vaccination to begin in March. These supportive measures will be pursued to ensure egg supply stability while reducing the risk of any stoppages in the industry in the future.
