The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said there is a possibility of primary commodities’ prices to adjust in the coming months following price hike requests from several manufacturers of coffee, sardines, instant noodles, and bread.
The DTI is also expected to release in the coming weeks the results of its deliberation on the proposed P4 increase in Pinoy pandesal (bread) price.
“Nakita natin talaga ‘yung talagang pag-akyat ng presyo internationally dahil nga imported yung harina na ginagamit natin, imported ‘yung wheat na ipina-process ng flour millers natin,” DTI USec. Ruth Castelo said.
“Alam natin rin yung need yung reasonability ng kanilang request, pero siyempre meron lang tayong hinihintay na mga data para ma-finalize natin kung i-a-aprove o hindi yung P4 na request ng mga bread producers,” she added.
As for fuel subsidies for bakers, Castelo said they cannot “overstep” the Department of Energy but “can probably make recommendations.”
The department inspected several supermarkets in Manila on Monday to check their compliance with suggested retail prices and in line with its price monitoring to determine commodities in need of price adjustment.
The current SRP for 155 grams of canned sardines ranges from P13.25 to P17.25, instant noodles between P7.00 and P8.25, 450 grams of Pinoy Tasty bread at P38.50, and three-in-one coffee from P4.00 to over P8.00 apiece. – Report from Ryan Lesigues-ag
