Bakers’ group Assosasyon ng Panaderong Pilipino (APP) said on Wednesday, January 24, that no “shrinkflation” would happen in bread despite the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) directive allowing manufacturers to reduce the weight or size of basic commodities.
“Sa aking tingin sa industry, walang pagbabago sa size ng ating tinapay at walang pagtaas sa presyo ng mga produkto sa bakery sa panahong ito maliban sa dalawang produkto ng corporate social responsibility (CSR) ng mga panadero [na] Pinoy Tasty at Pinoy Pandesal,” APP President Chito Chavez told DZRH in an interview.
Chavez earlier said that the prices of subsidized breads Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal would increase following a huge gap in price difference among other products.
The APP president also added that community bakeries could abide by the “shrinkflation” directive given their adaptive and flexible nature or if the circumstances would fit it best.
“Ang community bakery, yung nagtitinda ng pandesal by piece, ay masyadong adaptive or very flexible. Kung kinakailangan paliitin ang pandesal kung tumaas ang mga ingredients at hindi kayang bilhin ng mga mamimili [ay] ginagawa ito ng mga community baker,” Chaves said.
When asked about the locally produced additives in breadmaking, such as flours made of cassava and pumpkin, he said he had been lobbying for the use of the country’s agricultural products since most ingredients used for bread were imported.
“Napakahalaga po ng asukal, mantika, asin, at butter milk, ito yung component na halos imported pati ang harina,” the APP president said.
“2003 pa po ay itinutulak ko ang paggamit ng ating agrikulturang Pilipino upang magkaroon tayo ng local ingredients sa baking lalong-lalo na sa ating pandesal kung saan pwedeng gamitin ang kalabasa, malunggay, kamote, potato,” he added.
Chavez said using local produce for breadmaking would bolster the country’s agricultural sector.
“Ito po ay napakagandang proyekto na sana ay madinig o tulungan ng pamahalaan para palakasin pa ang paggamit ng agrikulturang Pilipino sa ating tinapay kung saan ang ating mga produkto ay halos imported po,” the APP president said.
