Philippines: Groups call for price hike of sardines and bread

Food manufacturers and bakers are calling on the Department of Trade and Industry for what they believe is a long overdue price hike on sardines and bread, both considered staple food by many Filipinos. According to a 24 Oras report by Bernadette Reyes on Tuesday, the Sardines Association of the Philippines is pushing for up to a P3 price increase for sardines, the canned version of which forms a part of the Pinoy diet. “Nag-increase ng minimum wage, tapos ang [presyo ng] gasolina up and down... Fish was only costing less than, about P21, P22. Ngayon, over P30, mag P40 na ata eh ang isda,” said CSAP spokesperson Bombit Buencamino. (The minimum wage increased, and the gas [prices] are up and down… Fish was only costing less than, about P21, P22. Now, it is over P30, fish is now almost P40) “’Yun aming hinihinging P3 noong araw, (That is the P3 we were requesting before) about two years ago, was never granted... and that forced closure of some suspension of operation of some ...