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MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos advised the public yesterday not to hoard food supplies as he gave assurance that the country has adequate stockpiles of basic commodities, including rice, amid rising global fuel prices and possible supply disruptions brought by the war in the Middle East.
Marcos personally inspected the prices of goods at the Agora market in San Juan City to ensure that vendors are not taking advantage of the crisis.
“Here in the Philippines, our prices are normal and we are making sure of that,” Marcos told reporters.
“We have sufficient supply of food, rice, all basic goods. So, to our countrymen, we tell them, there is no need to hoard as we are not lacking in food supply,” the President said.
Marcos said inspections are being conducted in different markets to ensure there is no sudden increase in prices of food.
The Department of Trade and Industry earlier said manufacturers of basic goods have pledged to keep prices steady for the next 30 days.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., on the other hand, said the Department of Agriculture is eyeing to impose a retail price cap on imported rice as the DA has monitored “unreasonable” increase in prices.
He said some retailers are selling imported rice at P55 to P58 per kilo.
“The price of imported rice should not go beyond P50,” Tiu Laurel said, noting that the government is looking at making P45 to P48 a kilo rice available in several markets.
He said the agency also monitored an increase in the price of carrots.
Tiu Laurel warned of a possible surge in the price of fish due to continuing rise in fuel costs.
“If the fuel prices go up by May or June there might be a shortage. Of course, if our fishermen won’t be able to fish because of the high fuel prices… the solution there is again… unfortunately, importation, if we can get supplies,” Tiu Laurel said.
He said the government would push for aquaculture to increase the supply of alternative seafood.
Tiu Laurel added that rising fertilizer costs would be felt by September if the crisis persists.
“The fertilizers for vegetables or what we call cash crops might increase… by P2 per kilo… because of logistics costs,” the agriculture chief said.
Malacañang yesterday raised the possibility of a state of emergency being declared to address rising commodity prices.
“That may happen,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told dzMM when asked if it is possible for President Marcos to declare a state of emergency to control the prices of goods.
Castro said such a declaration could serve as a basis for setting the prices of basic goods. She noted that the upward adjustments in fuel prices cannot be avoided but the increases should not be unreasonable.
Castro said there have been no discussions with regard to raising workers’ pay.
“The fastest measure that the President and this administration can implement is provide immediate assistance and it has started,” she said, referring to the cash aid given to affected sectors, including the public transport drivers.
President Marcos said the government would carefully study global oil price trends before deciding on the possible suspension of fuel excise taxes.
“That depends... That’s a very complicated calculation. We will see. Depends on the trends. We have to watch the trends on oil prices,” the President told reporters in San Juan when asked how soon he would exercise the emergency powers Congress intends to give him.
“It’s very hard to say because it’s all speculation. We don’t know how long this will last… We don’t know what the effects are. We don’t know what will happen in the Strait of Hormuz. So, you know, right now, we are just adjusting to the situation. And when the situation calls for it, then we will see when to exercise that power and... by how much,” he added.
Pushing for a bill granting him the authority to lower the excise tax on oil products is one of the measures Marcos is pursuing to respond to the effects of the Middle East conflict.
However, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged the administration to ensure support for vulnerable sectors affected by rising cost of fuel and other basic commodities.
“The burden falls disproportionately on low-income households, daily wage earners, transport workers, farmers, fisherfolk and those in the informal economy,” the CHR said in a statement yesterday.
“As prices rise, these groups face shrinking purchasing power, heightened risk of hunger and reduced access to essential services. Overseas Filipino workers and their families are also affected, as global instability and conflict may lead to job insecurity, displacement and higher living costs in host countries,” it added.
The CHR recommended taking concrete steps to protect these sectors through targeted social protection, wage support, subsidies and accessible public services.
Criminal cases were filed against the owners of two gasoline stations in Nueva Vizcaya and Eastern Samar for profiteering, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday. – Alexis Romero, Emmanuel Tupas
