Business giants Robinsons Supermarket, SM Supermarket, Puregold Supermarket, and S&R Membership will lower sugar prices to Php 70 per kilo in their groceries and stores starting next week, Malacañang announced on Friday, Aug. 19.

In a press release, the Office of the Secretary said this was the response of supermarket owners to Filipino consumers’ appeal amid the rising sugar price in the market.

It was Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez who met with the business owners following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s order.

Rodriguez said that the owners agreed with the suggested retail price of Php 70 per kilo of sugar from a high of Php 90 to Php 110 per kilo.

“Consumers can expect the price-drop in the leading groceries and supermarkets in Metro Manila next week. The availability of P70 per kilo of sugar is good until the supply lasts, according to the supermarket owners. The agreed selling price of P70 per kilo will likewise be monitored by DTI,” Rodriguez said.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will monitor the retailers’ compliance with the agreed 1 kilo per customer limit to ensure that “many consumers can avail of the cheap-priced sugar” and “to prevent possible household hoarding by some enterprising consumers.”

Alongside, a promise of 45,000 sacks of bottler-grade sugar was pledged by refined sugar company Victorias Milling Company to soft drinks manufacturers like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and RC Cola who are all facing a sugar supply crisis.

The Milling company also allotted 500,000 kilos of sugar for Kadiwa stores, a livelihood program of the agriculture department, in specific areas in the Visayas region.