Palace to lessen impact of rising food prices

Malacañang on Thursday gave assurances that it is doing everything to mitigate the impact of food prices which are rising to “dangerous levels." “It is a point of concern, which is why all the agencies that are related to this particular issue have been implementing measures to mitigate the impact," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters. The World Bank had earlier warned that rising food prices could affect lower income families and could swell the ranks of the poor in countries like the Philippines. Valte said the re-imposition of zero tariff on imported wheat helped lower the prices of bread. She added the Department of Energy has been in constant communication with the oil companies to ensure that the prices of fuel products are kept reasonable. “We take extra effort to explain to transport groups who are affected," Valte said. “Kapag tumataas iyong gas, iyong sa pasahe, nagsusunud-sunod, so talagang tinututukan po natin ito. And just to make sure na we are doing everything we can just to mitigate iyong nagiging impact po doon sa middle and lower income families po natin." (When oil price hikes and fare hikes come in quick succession, we give it our attention to make sure that we are doing everything we can to mitigate its impact on our middle and lower income families.)– Amita O. Legaspi/MRT/JV, GMA News