The National Economic and Development Authority considers the approval that columnist Mr. Rudy Romero has of Socioeconomic Planing Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia as badly misplaced in his recent article, “Bravo, Secretary Ernie,” published on Aug. 2, 2018.
Neda acknowledges that government has to speed up efforts to address increases in prices of consumer goods mostly caused by exogenous factors and only marginally by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. The entire economic team remains solid and undivided in advancing related programs and policies to help improve the lives of Filipinos—including the proposed rice tariffication bill.
Neda has issued joint statements together with the Department of Finance and the Department of Budget and Management reflecting their said commitment. You may access these here:
a) Neda-DBM-DoF Joint Statement on the May 2018 Inflation Report (http://www.neda/gov.ph/2018/06/05/neda-dbm-dof-joint-statement-on-the-may-2018-inflation-report/)
b) DoF-DBM-Neda Joint Statement on June 2018 Inflation Report (https://www.dbm.gov.ph/index.php/secretary-s-corner/press-release/list-of-press-releases/1108-dof-dbm-neda-joint-statement-on-june-2018-inflation-report)
You will also find in the statements the economic managers’ unified stand on the TRAIN Law in relation to inflation. Secretary Pernia has emphasized that TRAIN has had a minimal effect on inflation and has rather helped Filipinos cope with prices of goods by raising their take-home pay.
MARIA ELOISA I. CALDERON
OIC Director
Development Information Staff
National Economic and Development Authority