MANILA, Philippines - Militant women's group Gabriela staged a so-called breakfast protest in front of the Department of Trade and Industry's office in Makati City to call on the government to impose a price ceiling on sugar.

Protesting this week's P52-per-kilo suggested retail price (SRP) for the commodity, Gabriela said the government should bring market prices to P48 per kilo as earlier projected by Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

The group threatened to stage protest actions at the DA office in Quezon City and outside Vice President Noli de Castro's office.

The Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (Pagasa), meanwhile, expressed concern about imposing a price ceiling on sugar, saying this would only result in hoarding.

Pagasa admitted though that the mere issuance of SRP has not stopped sugar prices from rising to up to P56 per kilo.

It said prices of sugar-based products like powdered juices, powdered chocolate drinks and candies are expected to increase by 5% to 10% next month due to sugar price issues.