DA starts selling cheaper bread in Metro Manila Brgy. Bagsakan Centers

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture started on Friday the distribution and sale of cheap bread in various Barangay Bagsakan Centers in Metro Manila, in a bid to provide consumers some respite from high prices of commodities. "At least 2,000 pieces of bread loafs or tinapay ng bayan and 1,000 pieces of pan de sal ng bayan packs in four delivery vans will be distributed in 16 (Barangay Bagsakan Centers) in Metro Manila starting today," said DA Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup on Friday during the introductory delivery of the bread items at the DA central office in Quezon City. A loaf of bread will be sold at in Barangay Bagsakan Centers for only P37 while pan de sal will be sold at P12 for a pack of seven or just P1.71 apiece. In bakeries and other regular outlets, each loaf of bread now sells for P43 to P54 while pan de sal sells for P2.50 to P3.50 each. Salacup said the bread items being sold at lower prices use standard wheat flour, but that bakers' groups participating in this initiative have agreed to sacrifice their revenues and sell their goods at a discount. Among the groups participating in this program are the Philippine Association of Flour Millers and the Chamber of Philippine Flour Millers. Salacup said that the drop-off points for the Tinapay and Pandesal ng Bayan are the Barangay Bagsakan Centers in the following areas: • Signal Village, Taguig; • Barangay 97, Caloocan; • Nangka, Marikina; • Baesa, Commonwealth Market and Pag-asa in Quezon City; • Capri, Novaliches; Smokey Mountain, Baseco and Paco in Manila; • Camp Bagong Diwa; • Fort Bonifacio; • South Station in Alabang, Muntinlupa; • Barangay San Antonio , Parañaque; • Barangay 184 in Maricaban, Pasay; and • Barangay Camarin, Caloocan. - Cheryl Arcibal, GMANews.TV