No bread price hikes this Christmas - bakers' group

There will be no increase in the prices of bread this holiday season despite the recent hike in the prices of sugar and liquefied petroleum gas, an industry leader assured Sunday. Luisito Chavez, vice president of the Philippine Federation of Bakers Association (PFBA), gave the assurance during the weekly Balitaan sa Tinapayan news forum in Sampaloc, Manila. “The prices of sugar and LPG increased. But the bakers who belonged to PFBA decided not to impose increase of prices this year. This is our Christmas gift for Filipinos," he said. This, despite his admission that 2009 has not been a good year for the baking industry, particularly the small bakers. “The series of price increases of LPG and ingredients need for the making of bread really affected us. This really hurt especially the small bakers." Chavez said they are hoping 2010 will be different, noting that they consider election seasons as a peak for them. “Many of them [candidates] buy bread for staff and supporters," he said. The Philippines is set to conduct its first ever nationwide automated elections in May 10, 2010. - KBK, GMANews.TV