No impending hike in bread prices, bakers assure

MANILA, Philippines - There would be no increase in the prices of bread and baked-food products in the near future, a bakers’ association said Sunday. Speaking at the Balitaan sa Tinapayan forum in Manila, Luisitio Chavez of the Philippine Federation of Bakers’ Association said this is because of the implementation of the zero tariff on wheat order this February. “This (zero tariff on wheat) would really help us, especially the small bakers, to offset the increasing rental fees and even hiked prices of liquefied petroleum products,” Chavez said. The imposition of the zero tariff on food wheat is in accordance with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Executive Order 765, which she signed to ensure that prices remain at affordable levels. Chavez said they are hoping that prices of flour would decrease so prices of bread and baked-food products would also go down. Chavez however said that the shortage in the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) could greatly affect the baking industry. He appealed to the government to resolve the problem the soonest time. “Our business is affected by the LPG shortage and this is our major concern right now,” he said. - GMANews.TV