Manila City offers P25k subsidy for bakers amid price freeze on PH breads

The Manila City government will provide a P25,000-subsidy for local community bakeries which commit to maintain prices of basic Filipino breads for the next 30 days.

In a statement on Thursday, the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) said the subsidy will be available to participating bakeries in exchange for holding the prices of staple Filipino breads like pandesal, pandilimon, monay, and Spanish bread, among others.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno met with participating bakers on Thursday, where he said production cost will likely take a hit as flour is expected retail at P2,165 per sack.

With the subsidy covering flour and yeast, bakeries would be able to provide consumers with affordable bread without bearing increasing costs.

"Gusto kong matuto, kaya ko kayo pinatawag dahil gusto ko rin kayong tulungan, mga panaderya ng komunidad sa Lungsod ng Maynila," said Domagoso.

(I want to learn, which is why I called you because I also want to help you, the community bakeries of the City of Manila.)

"Ang pandesal is simbolo ng almusal ng pamilyang Pilipino — hindi 'yan pang-mahirap lang ha, pati mayayaman," he added.

(Pandesal is the symbol of the Filipino family breakfast—this is not just for the poor but also for the rich.)

The Manila mayor said the subsidy was not a permanent solution to the rising prices, but a "government cushion" that helps support bakers, who are "the heart of the community."

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recenty said prices of basic necessities and prime commodities would not increase until April 30. DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said Filipino consumers do not need to resort to panic buying, adding that supply shortages were not expected in the coming days. — VDV, GMA News