Bakers want Pinoy Pandesal, Pinoy Tasty prices hiked

The Philippine Federation of Bakers’ Association Inc. (PFBAI) on Saturday said they are seeking to increase the prices of Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal as the products’ lower prices are hurting the sales of community bakeries.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, PFBAI spokesperson Chito Chavez said the group is asking the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) since August last year to hike the prices of Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal.

Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal are cheaper varieties of bread. These products are produced as a corporate social responsibility program between the DTI and Philbaking launched in 2010.

Members of Philbaking include top brands such as The French Baker, Gardenia Philippines, Julie's, among others.

“Ang presyo po nito sa kasalukuyan ay sobrang napakababa na… P38.50 at 450 grams po ang Pinoy Tasty habang P23.50 ang sampung piraso ng Pinoy Pandesal na 25 grams,” Chavez said.

(The prices of these are too low… The price of Pinoy Tasty weighing 450 grams is P38.50 while the 10 pieces of Pinoy Pandesal at 25 grams costs P23.50.)

PFBAI, he said, is asking for a P4-price increase both for Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal.

“Humihina kami sa baba because of that corporate social responsibility,” Chevez.

(Our sales get affected because of that corporate social responsibility.)

The PFBAI spokesperson said the lower prices of Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal, which are sold in supermarkets and groceries, cause confusion among bakers and consumers.

“Ang presyo ng pandesal ang nagiging basehan ng mga consumer. Bakit ang Pinoy Pandesal mababa? Bakit ang pandesal sa community bakery mataas? Ito po ang nagiging confusion para sa amin na nagbebenta sa baba sa community bakers. Nagiging suliranin po namin ito,” Chavez said.

(The price of pandesal is the basis of consumers. Why is the price of Pinoy Pandesal cheaper? Why is the price of pandesal in community bakeries higher? This causes confusion among community bakers. This is a problem for us.)

Chavez said if the prices of Pinoy Pandesal and Pinoy Tasty will not be increased, the group is urging its producers to explain why the prices of their products are still cheaper compared to the ones sold by community bakers.

“Para maliwanagan ang mga tao na hindi naman nandadaya ang mga community baker when it comes to pricing ng aming pandesal,” he said.

(Explain it so the people will know that the community bakers are not cheating when it comes to pricing of our pandesal.) —KG, GMA News