EGG SUPPLY STABILIZES: Loans released to help poultry owners

A farmer in Barangay Anonang, Inabanga. This is where the fault line occurred after the province was hit by a strong earthquake six months ago.(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

Five months after supertyphoon Yolanda devastated part of northern Cebu, the province’s “egg basket” in Bantayan island is on the path to recovery with egg prices remaining stable.

“While many (poultry owners) were affected, some of the farmers in other areas were able to absorb the need catered to the demand. We expect stable supply of eggs at prices that are still within its usual level,” said Regional Director Nelia Navarro of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Navarro told Cebu Daily News there was no need to worry about a shortage and that Easter Sunday would still see many of the colorfully painted eggs that children will hunt as well eggs for household needs.

“There was a difference in the prices of eggs but the increases are very tolerable – about 25 centavos to 50 centavos higher,” she said.

In public markets, consumers could feel the difference although tray prices in supermarkets remained much the same.

Bantayan Island with its three towns of Sta. Fe, Madridejos and Bantayan is considered the egg producing capital of Cebu and supplies 80 percent of the province’s need.

Loan applications

Navarro said the DTI through the SB Corp. also started lending to farmers in the area to help them recover and resume supplying eggs and poultry again.

As of last month, SB Corp. released P69.5 million in loans to typhoon hit areas that include northern town of Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar.

SB Corp. head Francisco Buenavides said as of February, they received applications from 32 enterprises in Daanbantayan town and Bantayan Island and started to release loans from P200,000 to P5 million depending on the need of the enterprise.

“We have released loans to many of them which helped in ensuring that they get their livelihood back and that our supply doesn’t get too affected,” said Navarro.

In Santa Fe town, the municipal government extended the period of renewal of business permits to ease the burden of local businessmen who are still reeling from financial losses following supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

Variety

Sta. Fe Mayor Vicente Esgana said they have “relaxed their tax collection” for the year. Businesses such as poultry product providers and beach resort owners can pay taxes on an installment basis.

“We gave them a bit of leeway because we know that they are still on the road to recovery,” he told reporters.

Oyang Morados, a resort owner, said prices of eggs and other poultry products started going down.

Market prices of eggs vary depending on the size.

Small eggs costs P6 each while while the biggest ones cost P8.

As the world marks Easter Sunday, some resorts in Cebu offer Easter Egg Hunts.

In Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel in Mactan children aged four to 10 years old can enjoy a day at the beach with the egg huntning for P570 with a buffet lunch.

SM City Consolacion will also hold an Easter Party at 4 p.m. today where kids can wear costumes and win a prize for coming in the best costume. Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino has an Easter Egg Hunt for P500.

Ayala Center Cebu offers games like Bunny Hop, Easter Egg Toss, Egg Treasure Hunt and an Easter Treats Station.