Bakers seek increase in bread prices amid spike in flour cost

If flour prices continue to spike, bakers may have no other choice but to likewise increase bread prices.

According to Mav Gonzales' Saturday 24 Oras Weekend report, flour prices rose to P1,030 per sack from last December's P800. Class A flour was even more expensive at P1,100 per sack.

Even sugar prices rose by P50 per sack.

"Hindi pwedeng hindi dagdag presyo na," said bakery owner Nick Perez. "Malaki na [ang tinaas ng presyo]. Mahirap ng habulin yan. Di' na pwedeng paliitin pa [yung tinapay]."

If flour prices continue to increase, the price of pandesal may increase to P3 from P2.

The Philippine Baking Industry Group (PhilBaking) had thus asked the Trade and Industry Department if they could increase their prices.

PhilBaking had proposed to increase the Pinoy Tasty price by P4.50 and Pinoy Pandesal by P3.50.

The increases would come in two steps - half on February 1, while the other half would come into effect on April 4.

According to PhilBaking, the spike in flour prices was due to the rise in demand even as supply tightened.

"Dahil wala tayong sariling trigo, bumibili tayo sa ibang bansa. Siyempre, we are dependent doon sa global prices. Parang gasolina yan, parang krudo. Bakers are stuck with expensive wheat if they still want quality," explained PhilBaking President Johnlu Koa.

However, PhilBaking promised to reduce prices if flour prices eased.

GMA News had sought comment from DTI on the matter, but the department had yet to respond as of posting time. — DVM, GMA News