Palace: PRRD not sleeping on the job, working at curbing high inflation

President Duterte is not sleeping on the job and has actually taken measures to curb the country’s high inflation, Malacañang assured the public Monday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government has authorized the importation of rice, fish, and meat to augment supply, promoted suggested retail prices of food products, and provided cash subsidies to poor families, among others.

"The President and the administration are not sleeping on the job," Roque said in Filipino during a radio interview.

"It's unfortunate that fuel prices have doubled but we are not turning our back on this challenge," he said.

The country's inflation rate accelerated to a nine-year high of 6.4 percent last August, surpassing government’s forecast of 5.9 percent. The inflation spike has been attributed to the recent rise in the prices of rice and other food commodities.

Some groups have called on the government to focus on addressing the rising cost of commodities instead of focusing on its crit-

ics like Senator Antonio Trillanes IV whose amnesty was recently revoked by President Duterte.

But the Palace insisted that it was not using the amnesty case of Trillanes to deflect public attention from inflation.

Roque said the country's high inflation rate was triggered by the increase in world oil prices and the trade war between the United States and China.

To mitigate the impact of soaring inflation, Roque said the government's anti-inflation measures include the importation of rice, round scad, and pork.

He said the government has also temporarily suspended the special safeguard on certain imported onions and chicken to reduce prices.

He said they have also endorsed the proposed salary increases before the regional wage boards as well as given away cash and fuel subsidies to poor beneficiaries affected by the government's tax reform law.

"Sinusulong po natin ang tariffication para maibaba ang presyo ng bigas [We are also pushing for the tariffication bill to lower the price of rice],” he said.

“Sinusulong po natin iyong SRP, suggested retail price, na may kaparusahan kapag mayroon pong naglabag diyan para po sa lahat ng ibang mga bilihin sa palengke [We are promoting SRP or suggested retail prices for commodities in markets and will penalize those who will violate it],” he added.

Public address Meanwhile, President Duterte is expected to address the nation today amid the issues besetting the government such as high food prices and the revocation of Trilllanes’s amnesty.

"He announced in Davao that he wants to speak to the nation. If I'm not mistaken, it is scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon," Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said during a Palace press briefing.

"He just said he wants to talk to the people," he added.

Asked about the issues that will be tackled by the President, Roque said he was not yet aware about the details and instead suggested to just wait for the event. "That'stomorrow. Let's wait for tomorrow," he said.

Duterte, who recently returned to the country last Saturday from a weeklong trip to Israel and Jordan, has drawn criticisms from some groups for focusing on the amnesty of Trillanes instead of curbing the country’s high inflation rate.

August inflation rose to a nine-year high of 6.4 percent due to the higher prices of food, oil, among others.

Duterte earlier said the government was trying to control inflation and blamed US President Donald Trump’s trade war with China for the spike.

Ahead of the President’s public address, Roque has assured that the country has ample rice supply, adding steps would be taken to run after groups hoarding supply and manipulating prices.

Government is also taking measures to curb inflation such as the importation of rice, meat and fish to boost supply and reduce prices in the market.