By Junex Doronio
MANILA — It’s just like looking at the glass of water as half-full when a top official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) expressed optimism that the country under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will achieve a single digital poverty rate by 2028.
This was aired by NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon who noted that the country’s labor market recovered quickly following the reopening of the economy battered by the Covid-19 pandemic because of the available skills of the Filipino workforce.
“So, ang kailangan mo lang talaga is ibalik kaya lang nakita rin natin nagkakaroon din ng restructuring in other countries pati sa atin tama din iyon kasi nga nag-iba na rin talaga iyong panahon ngayon at kailangan lang nating mabilis na mag-adjust dito. So, iyon ang nakikita namin,” Edillon said during a recent news forum.
When asked if the nine percent poverty rate by 2028 is attainable, the NEDA official confidently replied in the affirmative.
“Yeah. Tingin namin kasi blip talaga iyong 2021 dahil nga sa COVID. So, nakita naman na rin natin iyong parang what worked before and that was really kailangan mo talaga ng economic growth and then make sure na itaas mo iyong inclusiveness of the growth,” Edillon said.
She further observed that, unlike other disasters, the pandemic did not ruin infrastructure or capital.
“Noong dati po ang pagiging inclusive natin is marami po talaga iyong naging social assistance natin sa baba. Ang kagandahan naman po doon itong social assistance na ito kaakibat po rin nito iyong sa education, sa healthcare and then sa training,” Edillon said.
(ai/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Rosemarie Edillon, Undersecretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), on Saturday (09 Dec 2023) asserted that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s imposition of a rice price ceiling has played a significant role in alleviating the country’s food inflation rate.
Edillon shared her insights during a news forum in Quezon City when questioned about the impact of the President’s price cap on rice.
“The rice price cap was implemented in September. So, these prices are as of November, and we are aware that towards the end of September and October, there was already a harvest,” Edillon explained. “So, yes, these factors are intertwined.”
The NEDA official emphasized that along with the government’s rice price cap, the suspension of pass-through fees by local government units (LGUs) also contributed to the reduction in the cost of essential goods.
Edillon highlighted that despite the goal of maintaining rice at P20 per kilo under current conditions, the President’s decision to adjust the buying price for fresh palay has proven beneficial for many farmers.
“The buying price increased to around P23, P25 – there are even instances of P25. That’s for palay, not yet rice. So, our farmers gained significant profit,” she remarked.
Furthermore, Edillon proposed demand management as a measure to help lower rice prices for consumers.
(ai/mnm)