Isko Moreno fears effect of Ukraine-Russia crisis on pandesal prices

PHOTO: Isko Moreno speaking in an Aksyon Demokratiko town hall meeting in General Trias, Cavite. JOHN ERIC MENDOZA

GENERAL TRIAS, Cavite — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso warned on Friday that aside from gas prices, wheat supply may also drive up the prices of pandesal due to the conflict between Russian and Ukraine, two of the world’s biggest wheat producers.

“Hindi lang gas ang magiging problema natin or krudo. Isa sa pinakamalaking producer ng wheat, na gumagawa ng harina, ay ang Ukraine. So expect na ang harina tataas din,” Moreno told reporters in an ambush interview during a town hall meeting in General Trias, Cavite.

(The conflict will not just affect fuel prices. Ukraine is one of the biggest producers of wheat. So expect that flour prices will also increase.)

“Pati pandesal ngayon liliit na. Maliit na nga yung pandesal, patuloy pa itong liliit,” said the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer.

(The pandesal will further shrink in size. The already small pandesal will shrink further.)

Russia is the world’s leading wheat exporter while Ukraine ranks fifth, according to the latest available data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Oil prices are also expected to further skyrocket due to the conflict since Russia is also a major oil exporter.

Meanwhile, Moreno has also expressed concern on the safety of Filipinos in Ukraine, encouraging them to return to the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has since launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, a move which was met with a torrent of condemnation from Western countries.

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