MANILA – The hike in the prices of basic goods in the country will continue in the coming years despite the announced 2.7 percent inflation downtrend in June, according to research group IBON Foundation.
In an interview, Sonny Africa, executive director of the group, said that while the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) attributed the decline in rice prices to the Rice Tariffication law, the law resulted in the influx of imported rice, causing the loss of income for many local rice farmers.
“Sa tingin namin, dapat mas may kabuuang tanaw tayo doon sa impact ng Rice Tariffication,” he said.
Africa pointed out that funds should be allocated for agriculture in order to lower the prices of food products, but this did not happen with the decrease in budget for the Department of Agriculture by more than P3 billion and the National Irrigation Administration.
Further, many agricultural lands are still not being irrigated.
“Tingin namin tuloy-tuloy ang pagtaas ng bilihin. Ang tanging pinakabuhos ng effort ng pamahalaan ay sa bigas lamang. Pero sa pangkalahatan, ‘yung bigas, isda, baboy, manok, tuloy-tuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo,” Africa said.
Africa said his group could not see any government program for other agricultural products, and that irrigation in the country is not being expanded.
“Wala kaming nakikitang malaking pagbaba ng presyo ng bigas sa mga darating na taon,” he said.
He added that the possible continuing decline of Philippine peso will also contribute to higher imported rice prices.
Africa said fisheries, particularly aquaculture farms, should be given assistance.
“Tingin namin, habang umuunti ‘yung priority ng gobyerno para sa budget, lahat ng kanilang pangako na mamo-moderate ‘yung inflation, lahat ng kanilang pangako na kailangan iangkat na sa ibang bansa ang pagkain, tingin namin ang long-term effect talaga niya ay malaking pinsala sa ating mamamayan,” he said. (GMA News)
