Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Wednesday underscored the importance of encouraging local producers and manufacturers to continue producing supply to cushion the impact of price surges in the country.
According to Lopez, it is important that supply remains continuous in order to minimize price surges the country.
"Napakahalaga na hindi maputol ang supply. Ibig sabihin, damihan natin ang supply, ma-encourage talaga natin ang production, ang pagdala ng produkto ng local farmers natin, ng mga local food manufacturers sa merkado at kapag maraming supply sa merkado… mas kalmado ang presyo," he explained to DZRH.
(It is important that local supply is not vut off. This means, we have to increase supply, and encourage production, and bringing products of our local farmers, local food manufacturers to the market. And when there is a lot of supply in the market… prices will be calmer.)
He added that importation should only be considered and allowed if there is a shortage.
"Kapag may kakulangan, doon tayo maga-allow ng importation. Hindi masamang mag-import kung ito ay dahil may kakulangan," he said.
(We will only allow importation when there is a shortage. There is nothing wrong with importation if this is because of a shortage.)
He warned that a shortage for just a day or two could see price increases in the country.
"Again, encourage natin [ang] continuous supply from local manufacturers to local producers," he said.
(Again, let us encourage the continuous supply from local manufacturers to local producers.)
He made the remarks after the Philippine Statistics Authority on Tuesday reported that inflation rose to four percent in March, one percent higher than the rate recorded in February.
Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said the government's economic managers attribute this to the upward trend in transport, gas, other fuels, among others.
