Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to closely monitor bread prices, Filipinos’ alternative staple to rice, given their continuous rise. In a statement, he urged the government to maintain pricing transparency and ensure that any price hikes are reasonable and justified. He also suggested providing support to bakers to improve efficiency and keep bread affordable.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian emphasized the need for the government to explore measures to stabilize production costs. This includes securing reliable supply chains for wheat and other essential ingredients and providing necessary support for bakers to enhance production efficiency. He stressed that ensuring the accessibility of essential commodities is crucial for Filipino consumers, especially amid the price hikes on several essential grocery items such as bread, milk, canned goods, detergents, and batteries.

The latest suggested retail price (SRP) bulletin from the DTI released on February 1 indicated that 77 out of 191 monitored commodities have seen price increases, including two brands of bread. Since the SRP bulletin dated February 8, 2023, the SRPs for Pinoy Pandesal and Pinoy Tasty have remained unchanged. However, in the latest issuance, the SRP of 250g Pinoy Pandesal and 450g Pinoy Tasty increased by PHP2.25 to PHP3.50.