Bakers Propose Price Adjustment for Pinoy Tasty and Pandesal Amid Rising Costs

In response to the escalating costs of baking ingredients, an association of commercial bakers is advocating for a price increase of P2 to P2.50 for Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal. Phil Baking is in the process of assembling relevant data to present to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to support their petition for the price hike.

DTI Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles acknowledged that the primary rationale behind this request is the surge in the prices of raw materials, particularly flour. The DTI is committed to thoroughly verifying the justifications provided by the bakers using independent market data to ensure a balanced approach to the proposed price adjustments.

Echoing the sentiment, Panadero Pilipino (PP), representing community bakeries, affirmed the validity of the request, emphasizing that the price adjustment has been long overdue and urging the DTI to consider it favorably.

Despite bread from community bakeries not being subject to the DTI’s suggested retail price (SRP), the department remains vigilant in monitoring their prices. A particular focus is on preventing shrinkflation, a deceptive practice where the size or quantity of a product decreases while its price remains unchanged, ensuring that consumers receive fair value for their purchases.

As the baking industry navigates the challenges posed by the fluctuating costs of raw materials, the DTI’s role in overseeing and validating price adjustments becomes crucial to maintaining a fair and transparent market for both producers and consumers.