Gov’t eyes lowering tariffs on meat, fish imports to address inflation

In a meeting to discuss measures to mitigate the impact of soaring inflation, Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Duterte administration’s economic managers tackle the possible lowering of tariffs on meat and fish imports.

“To cushion the impact of rising prices, pushing for lower tariffs on meat and fish imports is one of the proposed measures discussed during the recent meeting between President Duterte’s economic managers and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Sunday.

The Palace official added that the “economic managers are happy to be continuing to be working closely with the leadership of the legislature.”

Arroyo, an economist, met with President Duterte’s economic managers on Tuesday to help address the issue on increasing prices of commodities.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said they discussed that rice tariffication would help curb rising prices.

Before the meeting, Arroyo noted that she primarily wanted to get a briefing on the proposed P3.757-trillion budget for 2019. /ee

READ: Inflation hits 5.2%, exceeds gov’t target