ManilaTimes-June 9
There is an urgent need for the incoming administration of President-elect Ferdinand“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to consider drastic measures that would ease the adverse effects of a looming food and energy crises in the country brought about by global environmental and health woes and the war in Ukraine. Albay Second District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” Salceda said that fighting inflation and keeping food affordable should be the immediate economic priorities of the incoming administration. “It’s the most pro-poor policy the new president can take on his first few days in office,” Salceda said. The lawmaker, who has been reelected, said “I am also recommending a package of bills…” “Apart from funding provisions and provisions allowing the President to redirect some unused appropriations and resources, I am also proposing that we enact a package of anti-inflationary measures, such as anti-price gouging in the food and fuel sectors, price unbundling for fuel, some key tariff removals for imported farm inputs such as fertilizers and equipment, and boosting the production of domestic energy sources such as coal, until we can overcome this global price problem,” Salceda said. The United Nations on Tuesday warned about multiple, looming food crises on the planet, driven by climate “shocks” like drought and worsened by the impacts of the Covid-19pandemic and the war in Ukraine that have sent fuel and food prices soaring. Read more at: https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/06/09/news/national/drastic-steps-pushed-vs-food-energy-crunch/1846702
