Robredo: Focus on lowering prices, not Charter change

Vice President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER FILE/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Instead of changing the Constitution, Vice President Leni Robredo urged the House of Representatives to find ways to bring down prices and give more jobs to Filipinos.

“Imbes na maghain ng mga solusyon sa mga problemang dulot ng batas na ito, malinaw na usap-politika ang mas mahalaga para sa liderato ng Kamara, na siya nitong ipinakita sa pagpasa ng House Resolution na nagtutulak sa Cha-Cha,” Robredo said in a statement on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the House approved on second reading the proposed draft federal charter.

“Ang dapat tutukan ng ating Kongreso ay ang mga panukala na magpapababa sa presyo ng mga bilihin, at magbibigay ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan,” the Vice President said.

“Unahin na natin ang ating mga kababayan, at mga alalahaning pinakamalapit sa kanilang bituka at pamumuhay, kaysa sa pamumulitika,” she added.

While going around the country, Robredo said she found out that the main sentiment of the people is the unabated price increases of basic goods and services.

“Umaasa sila na ibubuhos ng pamahalaan ang kakayahan nito para pagaanin ang kanilang dalahin sa araw-araw,” she said.

But the Vice President lamented that lowering of prices seemed not a priority of the government.

“Delayed na nga ang ayuda para sa mahihirap, binawi pa ang suspensyon ng fuel excise tax sa January 2019,” Robredo said.

Also on Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the imposition of the second round of fuel tax increases starting January next year.

However, the government has taken an effort to solve joblessness in the country with the Ease of Doing Business Act that was recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Ease of Doing Business Act or Republic Act No. 11032 aims to “streamline business processes and reduce processing time in all government agencies to make the country more conducive to investments thereby creating more and better jobs for our people.”

The Senate also recently approved the rice tariffication bill which seeks to lift restrictions on rice importation to help the country’s rising inflation.

This bill is expected to alleviate the impact of the nine-year high inflation and address the country’s rice shortage. /cbb

READ: Duterte approves 2nd round of fuel excise tax hike in 2019 / Senate approves rice tariffication bill / Gov’t continuously finding ways to improve employment, vows Palace