By Jose Cielito Reganit | Philippine News Agency
House Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed on Friday that the lower house of Congress would continue helping President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that food products are accessible and affordable.
Romualdez made the commitment in reaction to the report of the Philippine Statistics Authority that inflation last month eased to 1.9% from 3.3% in August and 4.4% in July.
The September rate was the lowest in four years.
“The intervention measures taken by the government under the leadership of President Marcos Jr. are now yielding positive results,” Romualdez said in a statement.
He specifically cited the President’s decision to drastically cut the rice import tariff from 35% to just 15%, and the direct sale of rice to the public through Kadiwa stores.
“These twin steps have significantly reduced the retail price of rice, from above P50 to P60 per kilo, to P40 to P42 per kilo, or by at least 20%,” he said.
He also cited the President’s flagship programs—the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) and Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFFF)—that have visited 24 areas so far all over the Philippines, granting more than P10 billion in government services and cash aid that benefited over 2.5 million Filipino families.
Aside from the cash aid distributed in BPSF, various government agencies also offered their services to help citizens process their employment requirements in getting jobs or seeking livelihood.
“When people have jobs and livelihood, it benefits not only the local economy but that of the whole country as well,” he noted.
Romualdez said the House would contribute to the taming of inflation by exercising oversight power through the five-committee panel created to look into reports of smuggling, hoarding, price manipulation, and other practices in restraint of trade.
The joint panel would also monitor the enforcement of the recently signed Republic Act (RA) No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which aims to make food items more affordable and make life better for farmers.
Gov’t actions helped realize single-digit rice inflation
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) echoed Romualdez’s remarks that various government actions helped realize single-digit rice inflation last month.
In an interview over the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program, D.A. Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the reduced tariffs on imported rice under Executive Order (EO) No. 62, and other programs, such as the P29 and Rice for All, have factored in reducing inflation.
P29 refers to the sale of aging but good quality stocks of National Food Authority (NFA) rice at P29 per kilogram to senior citizens and vulnerable sectors of society, while Rice for All provides the general public with a mix of local and imported well-milled rice at P45 per kg.
“Pinapalakas pa rin natin lalo iyong ating productivity. So, itong mga combined na actions na ito ay nakakatulong para lalo pang bumaba iyong presyo sa merkado,” he said.
De Mesa said Filipinos may expect even lower rice prices in the coming months due to lower tariffs on imported rice and the peak palay harvest for the wet season this October.
“Posible pang bumaba talaga iyan dahil makita nga natin itong mga twin effects nitong EO 62, pagbaba ng taripa, itong Indian easing ng restrictions at ngayon sumabay pa iyong ating harvest, nag-start na,” he said, citing October as the peak harvest season.
On Sept. 28, the government of India lifted the export ban on non-basmati white rice, with the floor price set at USD490 per metric ton, lower than the international prevailing price of more than $500 per MT.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Zaldy Co, meanwhile, said that the Marcos administration’s whole-of-government approach has stabilized prices and made goods more affordable for Filipinos.
He noted that these short-term measures should be complemented with long-term strategies, particularly the President’s legacy projects on food security, to boost local agricultural production.
“We must prioritize strengthening food security by supporting our farmers. Congress is prepared to pass necessary legislation and allocated needed funds to help our agricultural sector thrive,” Co said in a separate statement.
He also echoed National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan’s call for increased investment in agricultural infrastructure.
Co emphasized the importance of improving irrigation systems, building post-harvest facilities, and providing farmers access to high-quality seeds and modern technology. (With a report from Stephanie Sevillano/PNA)