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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Common Pinoys can't feel benefits of eased inflation--solon

Common Pinoys can't feel benefits of eased inflation--solon

Published Aug 2, 2023 04:54 am
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate/ MANILA BULLETIN)




President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. indeed has basis to say that prices of goods are "stabilizing", but this benefit may not be felt by common Filipinos. Thus, said AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, who prodded the Marcos administration to aggressively address factors contributing to food inflation. “Tama naman ang datos ni PBBM (President Marcos) at kung numero lang ang pagbabasehan (PBBM's figures are correct, and if figures alone are used as basis), the President may have grounds to say that prices are stabilizing,” said Lee. The neophyte solon was alluding to the Chief Executive’s remarks in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 24, wherein the latter touted the easing of inflation. “Pero sa tingin ko hindi talaga nararamdaman ng karaniwang tao ito. Sa price monitoring mismo ng DA (Department of Agriculture), ang bigas ay binebenta ng P34 to P60 per kilo in June 2023, compared to P38 to P50 per kilo in June 2022, hindi pa bumababa talaga ang presyo," lamented the Sorsogon native. (But I think the common person doesn't feel it. According to the DA's price monitoring, the retail prices of rice stood at P34 to P60 per kilo in June 2023, compared to P38 to P50 per kilo in June 2022, so prices haven't really gone down.) Marcos is the concurrent DA secretary. Rice is the staple food of Filipinos. “Inflation rate is moving in the right direction," the President said in his SONA. "From 8.7 percent in January, our inflation rate, inspite of all the difficulties, we are transforming the economy. We are stabilizing the prices of all critical commodities,” he said.

Lee said: “The President said in the SONA that indicators show that we will be able to keep inflation in 2024 within the government target of 2.9 percent. Tingin ko improbable ma-hit ang target na ito kung hindi natin tutugunan ang presyo ng mga mahalagang food commodities tulad ng bigas." (I think it's improbable to hit this target if we can't address the process of crucial food commodities such as rice.) "More importantly, this number will not mean anything to our people if the main commodities they buy—rice and vegetables—remain expensive," he added.

Related Tags

Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. Wilbert T. Lee rice Agri Party-list inflation rate
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