PNoy to Summon Officials Over Price Hikes of Basic Goods

Following the hovering price of imported garlic at P300 per kilo not just in Metro Manila but also it Metro Cebu, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said he will call for a meeting with officials concerning these price hikes.

In a report over GMA news online, Aquino said the meeting, which will be scheduled probably this week, will determine the causes of the surging price of basic goods in the country. He added, the meeting also check the price of rice.

In Metro Manila, the price of commercial rice increased by P2 per kilogram, while the price of imported garlic is still hovering around P300-P400 per kilo since last week.

The Palace earlier admitted that they have yet to determine the cause of the apparent increase in the price of garlic and other goods.

Malacañang said the hike might have been due to port congestion and the government’s own campaign against smuggling, report said.

“Ang daming debate… ‘Yung output dahil sa ‘Yolanda’, ‘Santi’, and others, ano ba ang epekto talaga nun? ‘Yung laban natin, laban sa Spratlys, ay nagpapataas ng presyo? We need definitive answers,” the President said in a report from GMA News Online.

Aquino said the public in the meantime can avail of “low-end” rice since its price remains the same. He added that the government, while determining the cause of these price hikes, has decided to import rice because the projection is that supply will be thin in June and July.

The National Food Authority (NFA) has doubled its normal supply to ensure adequate supply that will prevent panic buying, the President said.

Source: Gma News Online