A militant lawmaker on Friday said Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol’s warning that the prices of basic goods might further increase due to Typhoon ‘‘Ompong’’ (international name Mangkhut) proved his non-sensitivity to the plight not only of typhoon-affected communities as well as consumers.
“Instead of simply warning of possible further price increases, the DA, in coordination with the Trade department, should order the freezing of prices in typhoon-hit areas in anticipation of the effect of Typhoon ‘‘Ompong.’’
“This is to prevent unscrupulous traders from exploiting the situation,” Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao, a member of the Makabayan Bloc, said.
“With the coming effects of Typhoon Ompong to properties and livelihoods, it is only just to call for price freeze,” Casilao added.
He said controlling the prices of basic goods especially in times of calamity was as important as preparing the people for the upcoming natural calamity.
“The Duterte administration should order the DA, DTI and other concerned agencies to also prioritize controlling the prices of basic goods,” Casilao said.
This developed as Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, an oppositionist, said the devastation wrought on the country’s economy and its institutions by the Duterte administration could be worse than the combined disasters caused by Ondoy, Yolanda, Ompong and other typhoons and calamities.
“When Duterte took over the presidency in July 2016, inflation was only 1.3 percent, now it is a crippling 6.4 percent due to no small measure to culpable government neglect and errant policies,” he said.
Lagman said the traffic gridlock when Duterte became president cost the country P3 billion daily in lost opportunities, now with the worsening traffic mess, the daily loss is equivalent to P3.5 billion or P1.3 trillion per year which is 34 percent of the P3.757-trillion proposed budget in 2019.
Lagman added the present rice crisis of spiraling prices and shortage, whether actual or contrived, besetting the Duterte administration was absent when he assumed the presidency.
Lagman said even self-rated poverty increased to 48 percent this year from 44 percent in 2016 or an increase to 11.1 million Filipino families translating to 66.6 million individuals at six members per family.
“Before the Duterte presidency, the Philippines was the acknowledged leader in the Asian Region in human rights protection and promotion, but the country has lost that premier status when Duterte campaigned for the restoration of the death penalty and violated human rights with impunity,” Lagman added.