President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has called for a cohesive strategy to manage food prices, following a meeting with the Department of Agriculture (DA) at Malacañan Palace in Manila. The President highlighted the necessity of a unified approach during discussions on the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, aimed at reducing smuggling and stabilizing market prices. Marcos emphasized that new policies are essential to protect consumers from market fluctuations, as reported by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM).
The DA has taken steps to address rising food costs, declaring a food security emergency for rice on February 4 due to significant price increases. Additionally, the DA reduced the maximum suggested retail price for 5-percent broken rice in Metro Manila to PHP52 per kilogram from PHP55 on February 15. The agency is also exploring options to offer more affordable pork and chicken to consumers as alternatives amidst price spikes.
In a separate meeting with the Department of Energy (DOE), President Marcos discussed policies concerning coal-fired power plants and indigenous coal mining. The discussions focused on the coal moratorium and mining issues, with Marcos stressing the importance of a reliable power supply for the nation’s socioeconomic stability. The DOE briefed the President on current coal policies, underscoring the priority of ensuring sufficient power to safeguard the welfare of the Filipino people.