MANILA, Philippines- Nananatiling committed ang administrasyong Marcos na tugunan ang mga hamon na kasama ng 6.1% inflation rate.
Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ng Presidential Communications Office (PCO) na sinimulan na ng gobyerno ang serye ng hakbang para pagaanin ang epekto ng pagtaas sa presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin kabilang na ang digital Food Stamp Program, fuel subsidies, at target na tulong sa mga magsasaka na aabot at lagpas sa short term.
Sinabi pa ng PCO na kapwa kumikilos sina Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at ang mga Cabinet members para pagaanin ang transportation costs at gumawa ng long-term investments sa irigasyon at makabagong farming practices para suportahan ang agriculture sector.
“The administration’s dedication remains unwavering in ensuring stability and providing assistance to those in need, safeguarding the citizens’ interests in these challenging times,” ayon sa PCO.
Iniulat naman ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) na mas lalong umarangkada ang inflation rate noong nakaraang buwan dahil sa mabilis na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pagkain partikular na ng bigas at maging ng pasahe sa mga pampublikong sasakyan sa gitna ng mataas na presyo ng langis.
Sa press briefing, sinabi ni National Statistician and PSA chief Claire Dennis Mapa na ang inflation o rate ng pagtaas ng presyo ng mga consumer goods at services — ay pumatak sa 6.1% noong nakaraang buwan, mas mabilis kumpara sa 5.3% rate na nakita noong Agosto.
Ani Mapa, ang pangunahing dahilan ng mabilis na inflation noong September 2023 kumpara sa August 2023 ay ang mabilis na pagtaas ng presyo ng Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
“The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index saw an inflation print of 9.7%, faster than the 8.1% rate in August, and a share of 84.4% to the overall increase,” ayon sa PSA sabay sabing, “Ang nag-ambag ng malaki sa pagtaas ng inflation ng Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages ay ang mas mabilis na pagtaas ng presyo ng cereals and cereal products, na may 14.1% inflation. Ang halimbawa nito ay bigas.”
Samantala, sinabi ng PCO na inaabangan na ng mga economic managers ang dahan-dahan na galaw ng presyo ng bigas dahil sa pagtaas ng local production bunsod ng harvest season at pagpasok ng rice imports na nauna nang ini-order.
“This foreseen moderation in rice prices will alleviate the burden on citizens,” ayon sa PCO.
Samantala, sinabi naman ni Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno na doble ang ginagawang pagsisikap ng pamahalaan para pagaanin ang epekto ng inflation.
“The Philippine government is all hands on deck in ensuring that we have the right policy measures, programs, and monitoring mechanisms in place to arrest rising commodity prices, which remain to be the top-of-mind concern of our citizens,” ayon kay Diokno sa isang kalatas.
“To help ensure that rice and vegetable inflation will decline for the rest of the year, the government will continue to implement a package of measures that seeks to address non-competitive market behavior, support farmers, and protect the vulnerable,” aniya pa rin.
Sa katunayan aniya, kasalukuyang pinaiigting na ng pamahalaan ang pagsisikap nito na imbestigahan ang mga bodega at forfeiture procedure, paghahain ng reklamo laban sa market players na may kinalaman sa umano’y ulat na anti-competitive practices, at mahigpit na price monitoring sa imported rice sa logistics chain para protektahan ang mga magsasaka at tiyakin na ang mas pagbaba ng tariff rates “do not translate to higher profit margins for importers, traders and middlemen.”
“The government will further improve the utilization and implementation of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) programs such as farm mechanization, seed development, propagation and promotion, credit assistance, and extension services to improve the productivity of rice farmers, reduce production costs, and link domestic producers to the value chain,” ayon kay Diokno.
“The government is also undertaking measures to mitigate non-food inflation across several fronts, including energy and water demand management measures; supply management measures; managing cost of electricity; careful review of wage and fare hike petitions; and monitoring the implementation of Executive Order 41 that prohibited the imposition of pass-through fees for delivery trucks,” dagdag niya.
“To help protect the vulnerable sectors, the government also continues to focus on the completion of its targeted cash transfer program as well as fuel subsidy programs for qualified drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs).
“Meanwhile, the government will also accelerate the implementation of its 2023 Fuel Assistance for Farmers Program to farmers and fisherfolk,” lahad ni Diokno.
Aniya pa, nananatili namang committed ang Inter-agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IAC-IMO) na patuloy na nagmo-monitor ng developments sa food at non-food inflation upang magawang makabuo ng napapanahon at nauugnay na policy recommendations upang makatulong na mapagaan ang inflationary pressures. Kris Jose
