MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to prioritize measures that will stabilize the supply and prices of food, fuel and electricity amid persistent economic pressures, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President has specifically instructed agencies to ensure that the country does not experience fuel supply disruptions because of their potentially severe impact on businesses and the broader economy.
“Kabilinbilinan ng Pangulo na hindi dapat mawalan ng supply ang Pilipinas ng fuel,” Castro said during a press briefing at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.
She said any interruption in fuel supply could slow business activity and worsen economic conditions.
Castro cited several government measures aimed at easing the burden of higher prices, including the removal of the 12-percent value-added tax on allowable system loss charges in electricity bills and steps to manage pork supply.
She also pointed to the continued rollout of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport, the Walang Gutom Program, TUPAD and Free Rice programs.
The government is also maintaining fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle drivers and operators, particularly those affected by higher fuel costs linked to developments in the Middle East.
Castro said the expansion of Kadiwa outlets is likewise continuing to help provide consumers with more affordable basic goods.
On food security, the Palace said palay storage facilities in Tarlac are being expanded, while the country’s first commercially approved African swine fever vaccine is being used to support pork supply ahead of the holiday season.
The Department of Agriculture, led by Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr., is also strengthening coordination with DOST-PAGASA to help the agriculture sector prepare for changing weather conditions.
Castro added that Marcos met with Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Wednesday to discuss additional programs that could cushion the impact of rising commodity prices, particularly as the country deals with El Niño.
