MANILA – Select premium bread brands increased prices due to increasing cost of raw materials, the Department of Trade and Industry confirmed recently.
The price of a 450-gram loaf of bread increased by P1 while that of the bigger 600-gram loaf went up by P2.
“We have confirmed reports na nag-increase ang ilang premium brands ng tinapay. Hindi ito dumaaan sa DTI kasi hindi naman siya nakalagay sa suggested retail price list natin,” DTI undersecretary Ruth Castelo said.
Bread manufacturers cited the high cost of packaging and sugar as reasons for the said increase.
“Ang sinabi nila ‘yung increase ng cost ng production nila including packaging at ‘yung hindi pagbaba ng presyo ng asukal. Ang sinasabi nila mataas pa ‘yung presyo ng supplier nila ng asukal so we have to confirm this kaya may letter tayo sa kanila,” she added.
Meanwhile the DTI is encouraging consumers to purchase Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal whose prices will remain unchanged until the end of the year.
Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal are cheaper compared to the premium bread brands. Bernadette Reyes
“Ang quality nito halos pareho lang pero ang presyo kalahati so the consumer will still have a choice,” Castelo said.
The DTI warned community bakers to avoid hiking their prices or producing smaller bread as there is no reason for such actions.
“Hindi dapat gumalaw ang presyo ng tinapay sa mga community bakeries natin kasi stable ang presyo ng flour. Pababa ang presyo ng asukal. Pababa ang presyo ng fuel. Wala silang packaging na pinagkakagastahan so ang presyo nila dapat pareho lang,” Castelo added. (GMA News)
