The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in cooperation with local flour millers had started yesterday selling pan de sal that is cheaper by almost P1 than the bread sold at groceries and bakeries.
The pan de sal will be sold in neighborhood stores with prices ranging from P2 to P2.50 per piece.
Buyers at the “Tinapay ng Bayan” stores can buy a 180-gram pack of seven pieces of pan de sal for P12 or P1.71 a piece.
Loaf bread will likewise be cheaper at P37 per 550 grams compared with the loaf bread that are sold in public markets and groceries for P44 to P54.
“This gesture initiated by the flour millers shows to the public that the government and the private sector are continuously working together to see to it that the prices of basic goods and prime commodities remain at affordable levels,” Trade Secretary Peter Favila said in a statement.
At least 2,000 loaves and 1,000 packs of pan de sal will be delivered on the first day of the sale. The volume will increase depending on the demand.
The DTI in partnership with the Department of Agriculture has studied measures to ensure that the poorest sector will have access to the cheap loaf bread and pan de sal.
The cheaper bread were distributed in Barangay Baesa in Asamba Homes and Barangay Capri in Novaliches, Quezon City; Road 9 corner Road 11, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City; Barangay Signal Village, Electronics Avenue, FTI Complex, Taguig City; Barangay 129, Smokey Mountain Community Association Inc. in Balut, Tondo; KABAKA MPCI, A. Linao Street in Paco, Manila; Barangay 198 Aeroville, Airlane Road, NAIA Pasay City; Barangay 97, Jolummar MPC, 10th Avenue, Grace Park, Caloocan City; Nangka Workers MPC, Makabayan St., Nangka, Marikina; Pederasyon Samahang Nagkakaisang Maralita ng Navotas, Inc., Barangay Tanza, Navotas City; Spectrum Midway Extension corner Corporate Ave., Alabang Muntinlupa.
The Department of Agriculture, likewise, has started distributing and selling cheap bread in various barangay bagsakan centers or BBs (formerly known as barangay food terminals or BFTs) in Metro Manila. – With Marianne Go