(File photo)
MANILA – A lawmaker on Wednesday cited the need to expedite the release of still undistributed subsidies, particularly the proposed PHP500 monthly subsidy, to poor Filipino families for three months amid surging commodity prices.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda made the statement as the country's headline inflation quickened to 5.4 percent in May from 4.9 percent in April, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Salceda said elevated inflation levels would persist as the Russia-Ukraine conflict "continues without signs of abating."
He said he would follow up with relevant government agencies on President Rodrigo Duterte's promised PHP500 monthly cash aid, which was supposed to be implemented instead of the proposal to suspend fuel excise taxes.
"I am concerned that the poor are getting hit harder than everyone else in this. The inflation rate for the bottom 30 percent of households, year to date, has been 4.3 percent, whereas general inflation has been 3.5 percent year to date. This emphasizes the need to expedite any subsidies still undistributed," Salceda said.
He noted that the immediate impact inflation will have on the poorest households would be in nutrition.
The government, he said, should implement "aggressively" the nationwide feeding program required by law as face-to-face classes resume to supplement food intake among children from low-income households.
Community-based food production efforts will also be critical in rural areas, he added.
"I emphasize that inflation has been faster in 14 regions outside of NCR (National Capital Region). Price increases are affecting provinces harder than NCR," Salceda said.
He suggested that the government also work with partners with large seasonal food surpluses to prevent a nutritional crisis among poor communities.
He said measures to subsidize sectors with second-round effects, such as public transport and agriculture, would also be vital.
"President-elect (Ferdinand) Marcos (Jr’s) pick for Agriculture Secretary will be all-important as we deal with inflation in the coming months," Salceda said.
On Tuesday, Acting Presidential Spokesperson, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, assured that the government continues to monitor the prices of basic commodities.
"Patuloy nating minamatiyagan ang presyo ng pangunahing bilihin, 'yung basic goods. Alam natin na ang pagtaas ng inflation ay dulot ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis (We continue to monitor the prices of basic goods. We know that inflation increased due to the rise in world oil prices)," Andanar said in a Palace briefing.
He said the Duterte government is implementing measures to tame the rise in consumer prices, such as the fuel subsidy program that would help ease the impact of global inflationary pressures.
More than 180,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators have received their PHP6,500 fuel subsidy under the Pantawid Pasada program, as of June 1.
Andanar added that the Service Contracting Program (SCP) would benefit both PUV drivers and commuters.
The SCP forms part of the government's targeted assistance to help cushion the impact of the consecutive oil price hikes on vulnerable sectors. (PNA)
