The government is implementing various measures to reduce food prices in response to the current energy emergency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Monday.
“Inutusan ko na ang Department of Agriculture at saka ‘yung Tariff Commission na pabababain ang taripa sa mga inaangkat na pagkain upang makatulong sa pagbaba ng presyo para sa ating mga namimili,” President Marcos said in a statement in Malacañang.
“Pero malinaw ang directive na ito. Hindi ito puwedeng gawing basta-basta. Bawat hakbang, malinaw ang proteksyon sa ating lokal na produksyon. Poprotektahan natin ang mga consumer, ang mga magsasaka, at ang industriya.”
At the same time, the President said the government will fast-track the processing of permits, such as the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) and the Certificate of Necessity to Import, to enable quicker and cheaper importation of food into the country.
According to the chief executive, the government also removed the toll at fish ports to cut food prices and will address overproduction during harvest, which often leads to wastage.
Logistics costs will also be reduced in transporting products from the ports to markets, the President said, noting Cebu and Subic Bay ports have already reduced or suspended various fees for the benefit of the public.
“So, mababawasan ang gastos mula sa anchorage, sa berthing fee, cargo handling, storage fees para hindi na ito madagdag sa presyo ng pagkain,” the President emphasized.
“Ang Philippine Ports Authority ay ibinaba sa piso ang Roro terminal fee para sa mga sasakyang nagdadala ng agricultural products. Dahil layunin natin na panatilihing sapat ang supply at tiyaking tuloy-tuloy ang hanapbuhay ng ating mga kababayan.”
President Marcos announced the expansion of the Benteng Bigas program to aid more people.
“Dadamihan ang tindahan, habaan ang oras ng pagbenta, lalo na para sa ating mga senior citizen, para sa ating PWD at siyempre mga single parent,” said the Chief Executive. | PND
