DTI to meet with bakers, millers on bread prices

Amid a looming price hike in bread products, trade officials will meet with bakers and millers to soften the impact of rising flour and wheat prices. Trade Assistant Secretary Theresa “Angel" Pelayo-Ty said the meeting aims to find ways to maintain within the suggested retail price of P1 to P1.50, a 25-gram pan de sal. “We maintain that suggested retail prices of bread should be between P1 to P1.50 per 25-gram of pan de sal. But we will meet with bakers and millers in the face of price hikes in sugar and flour," Pelayo-Ty said in an interview on dzBB radio. She also said the Trade Department is keeping watch over prices of noodles and other food items that use flour as a major ingredient. Pelayo-Ty reminded manufacturers not to raise the prices of their items immediately after prices of flour go up. “At the DTI, every centavo must be justified. Flour is bought in advance, so it is not right to increase prices immediately after world prices of the commodity go up. Usually the time frame is six months," she said. DTI sanctions 41 cement retailers Meanwhile, Pelayo-Ty said the DTI has issued notices of violation to 41 cement retailers and dealers. She said at least two retailers had been charged administratively, but had blamed the manufacturer for charging high prices. Citing reports reaching her, Pelayo-Ty said prices of cement are still way over the suggested retail price of P210 to P215 per bag. Pelayo-Ty reminded cement manufacturers of their promise that prices of cement will normalize by January, following the devastation of last year’s typhoons. “Sabi nila everything will go back to normal by January, there is no reason to increase prices. Ngayon pagdating ng January mataas pa rin (They said everything will go back to normal by January and there is no reason to increase prices. Now it’s January but prices are still high)," she said. - LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV