Malacañang: Gov’t taking steps to curb soaring rice prices

The government is taking steps to address the continuous rise of rice prices, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque assured on Monday.

“Naniniwala po tayo na ang supply ay nariyan, baka mayroon lang talagang nagtatago. Huwag po kayong mag-alala, ramdam po ng Presidente ang nararamdaman niyo,” Roque told reporters in a Palace briefing.

(We believe that the supply is there, maybe there’s just some who are hiding it. Don’t worry, the President feels what you are feeling.)

“May ginagawang hakbang para solusyonan iyan. Siguro po sa lalong mabilis na panahon mararamdaman ‘yan. (There are steps being taken to give this problem a solution. It will probably be felt soon.),” he added.

The country’s inflation accelerated to a new nine-year high of 6.4 percent last August, surpassing government forecast of 5.9 percent. Economic managers attributed the inflation spike to the recent rise in the prices of rice and other food commodities.

Opposition lawmakers have called for the sacking of food officials for their alleged failure to curb the rising prices of the staple in the market.

However, Roque insisted that there were no shortage in supply, as President Duterte said in a speech upon his arrival from Israel and Jordan.

“Well ang Presidente nagsabi sa kanyang arrival statements na we have ample supply, isa sa problema siguro po ay ‘yung nagsasamantalang nagtatago ng mga supply na ‘yan. So ang pangako nga po ni Presidente ay magsasasampol, hindi ko lang alam kung kelan mangyayari yan,” Roque said.

(The President said in his arrival statement that we have an ample supply; one of the problems is those who taking advantage and hiding the supply. The President promised that he will take action against them, I just don’t know when that will happen.)

The Palace official also stressed that the government has already taken steps to alleviate the impact of inflation.

“We have authorized importation of oil galing sa Russia na mas mababa (that’s longer), we have allowed entry of imported agricultural products, removed special safeguard measures. We have increased regional daily wages all over the country,” Roque said.

“He (Duterte) has vowed to run after hoarders of rice, we have authorized the importation of rice itself and I think we will also authorize the importation of broken rice to augment the supply of P 27 per kilo rice. So ‘yun po ‘yun and in addition to that ‘yung full implementation ng SRP (Suggested Retail Price) Law, ang areas po like in Zamboanga they have resorted to price control after a declaration of state of calamity,” he added. /je