Senator Bam Aquino pushes for basic goods price freeze amid rising costs

Senator Bam Aquino reiterated his appeal for the Philippine government to impose a price freeze on basic and essential goods to protect consumers from the ripple effects of rising oil prices.

Aquino made the call following remarks from Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro, who said the government is still assessing how a price freeze would affect various sectors.

Aquino said, “Mag-price freeze na sila. Mula noong nagsimula iyong hearing, tumaas na ng P20 iyong diesel, iyong gasolina P10. Sinabi ng Department of Agriculture tataas ang presyo ng pagkain kung wala silang gagawin. Mahalagang gumalaw na ang gobyerno,” Aquino said.

He stressed the need for immediate government intervention, noting that many Filipinos are already struggling with rising costs.

“Kailangan natin ng agarang aksyon at ang mungkahi ko, gawin na iyong price freeze para sa napakaraming Pilipino na hirap na hirap na ngayon. Gawin na nila yan at tulungan nila yung napakarami nating mga kababayan,” he said during the hearing of the Senate’s Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee on Thursday.

Government officials confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 110, which declared a state of national energy emergency, only includes price monitoring measures—not a price freeze.

“No price freeze as of now, Mr. Chair,” Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Cancio told Aquino.

Aquino questioned why the administration chose not to adopt a broader emergency declaration that could have allowed price controls on essential goods.

“Ang nilabas ninyo is national energy emergency, which I know addresses the supply issues, but I don't think it addresses the concern when it comes to basic commodities and essential goods,” he said.

He added that the public remains concerned about the continued rise in prices in everyday markets.

“Palagay ko po at palagay siguro ng marami sa amin, kulang pa dahil ang hinahanap din ng taumbayan ay ang hindi magtuloy-tuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo sa mga palengke, sa supermarket, at sa grocery,” he said.

Officials from DEPDev, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Finance were unable to clxplain why the government opted not to declare a wider state of emergency that could have paved the way for a price freeze on basic goods.

-Paraluman. News