Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso announced a ₱25,000 subsidy for community bakeries as part of efforts to keep bread prices stable amid rising production costs linked to the ongoing oil crisis.
The announcement was made during a meeting with local bakers at Bulwagang Bayan in Manila City Hall, where the city government offered financial assistance to participating bakeries in exchange for a 30-day price freeze on staple products such as pandesal, monay, pandilimon, and Spanish bread. These items are widely consumed across Filipino households and are considered daily essentials, particularly for workers and students.
Domagoso presented a breakdown of production costs, estimating that expenses per sack of flour-based goods now reach around ₱2,165. He said nearly 70 percent of total costs come from flour and yeast, with the rest covering utilities and labor. The subsidy, he explained, is intended to ease the burden on small bakeries so they can absorb rising costs without increasing prices.
He emphasized that the measure is a temporary intervention aimed at cushioning the impact of higher input costs, not a long-term solution. The mayor also highlighted the role of community bakeries, describing them as essential to neighborhoods and distinct from large commercial chains.
Asosasyon ng Panaderong Pilipino President Chito Chavez welcomed the move, saying it provides relief to local bakers and allows them to continue operations despite increasing expenses.
