'Don't blame us on Manila bread price hike'

MANILA, Philippines - The Confederation of Sugar Producers Association, Inc. (CONFED), the biggest sugar group in the country, defended the sugar industry against issues last week that it is to blame for the increase in bread prices in Manila.

Raymond Montinola, chairman of CONFED-Negros-Panay Area, said there were reports in Manila last week that an association of bread producers is putting the blame on the prices of sugar for the increase of pan de sal at P1 and a loaf of bread at P5.

“Any increase of basic commodities such as bread should not be blamed on the sugar industry. Sugar is only 15 percent of the ingredients in bread, its main ingredient is flour so why shouldn’t they blame the flour industry?” Montinola said.

“We challenge also the bread makers to come up with their costings on how they came about with their own price increases,” he said. Montinola said another problem is the very high price of sugar in Manila at P72 per kilo. He said there is a great disparity between sugar prices in Manila and in Negros.

The price for refined sugar in Negros is P61 per kilo, while raw or brown sugar is P50 per kilo. With add-on of P4 for Manila price, it should only be at P65 and P54 per kilo, respectively. He said that sugar producers don’t control the price of sugar in the market so they are not to blame in case of sugar price increase.

Montinola alleged that some unscrupulous groups are creating a scenario that there is a lack of sugar supply in the country, citing the low buying price of sugar last week, to justify the need for importation.

Adding to this problem are the reported smuggling and hoarding of sugar, he said.