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PBBM hails supermarkets for selling sugar at P70/kilo

By Azer Parrocha

August 22, 2022, 6:23 pm

<p><em>(OPS photo)</em></p>

(OPS photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday hailed the country’s leading supermarkets for agreeing to sell sugar as low as PHP70 per kilogram, describing their act as a “classic display of the spirit of bayanihan.”

Marcos made this remark after reports reaching Malacañang showed that supermarket and grocery chain owners brought down the price of sugar to PHP70 per kilo, from a high of PHP90 to PHP110 per kilo.

“This is a classic display of the Filipino spirit of ‘bayanihan’ and love of country. It is good to know that consumers are now enjoying the price-drop of sugar in the leading groceries and supermarkets,” Marcos said in a press statement.

Supermarket and grocery chain owners earlier assured that the availability of PHP70 per kilo of sugar is good until their supply lasts.

Marcos likewise directed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor participating retailers’ compliance to the agreed purchase limit of one kilo per consumer.

Last week, Marcos met with owners of Robinsons Supermarket, SM Supermarket and Puregold Supermarket where they all agreed to the suggested retail price of PHP70 per kilo of sugar.

The business owners also committed to unload 1 million kilos of sugar in their respective supermarkets which they implemented starting Monday.

He also met with members of the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, Inc. (PCFMI) to arrive at a concession with traders to tame sugar prices.

The PCFMI is the principal organization of manufacturers and distributors of food products in the Philippines.

It is responsible for providing consumers with safe, nutritious, and affordable processed food products compliant with local and international standards and regulations.

Currently, the government is eyeing the direct importation of local good manufacturers as part of "emergency measures" to address the sugar supply shortage.

The government is also inspecting warehouses to determine if hoarders are creating an "artificial" shortage of sugar. (PNA)

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