The Senate recommended that the Philippines import flour from other countries as an emergency measure to lower the price of bread.
According to Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, the import of flour, which is government-to-government and only for emergency use, could be a short-term solution to the increase in bread prices.
This follows the increase in the price of bread in bakeries due to the high costs of the ingredients used in making it, specifically flour.
The price of Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal is also set to increase on February 1.
“Napipilitang magtaas ng presyo ang mga panadero dahil nagmamahal ang materyales at pagpapatakbo ng negosyo habang gipit pa rin ang mga budget ng mga mamimili sa gitna ng pandemya,” said Marcos.
Marcos also proposed that the Department of Trade and Industry implement a price freeze on raw materials not to burden small bakers in the country.
Apart from ingredients, the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is also used in making bread, also went up.
Only bread yeast and dry yeast allegedly did not change the price.
Importing flour to lower price of bread recommended
Meanwhile, the price of sugar and flour in Mega Q-art increased:
- WHITE SUGAR – P70/KILO FROM P60
- WASHED – P55/KILO FROM P48
- BROWN – P57/KILO FROM P50
- FLOUR – P900/SACK FROM P820
According to retailer Rosalie Ferriol, they were also surprised by the sudden increase in prices, but they also did not know the reason.
Sugar Regulatory Board Administrator Herminigildo Serafica explained that there is no shortage in the supply of sugar.
There was only a slight slowdown in refining sugar after some warehouses, and two refineries in Negros were damaged due to typhoon Odette. Still, the country is said to be able to catch up with production.
He suspects some traders take advantage and use what happened to Odette as an excuse.
He said he would issue a show-cause order to stores that sell sugar higher than the set SRP, which is P50 per kilo for refined and P45 per kilo for raw (brown).
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