By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Echoing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s earlier statement that the push to make Mindanao a separate country is “doomed to fail,” a top official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Saturday asked the “Mindanao independence” proponents led by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez about their economic rationale.

NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon made the statement a few days after Duterte’s ally Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who’s a Davao resident openly rejected calls for a “separate and independent Mindanao,” citing the hassles of getting a visa if he has to visit his grandchildren in Batangas.

“You need popular support. What is the economic rationale for this?” Ediilon asked, adding that Mindanawons are likely to suffer social costs if calls for the secession of the country’s second-largest island prosper.

“More than the economic cost, it is the social cost,” Edillon noted in a press conference in Quezon City.

“Yung mga taga-Mindanao din, parang talking about cost of doing business, madadagdagan yung cost of doing business nila,” she added.

The NEDA official also cited the impracticality and hassles of having a separate “Mindanao republic.”

“We dont want a situation na kapag pupunta tayo sa Mindanao, we need a visa or a passport,” Edillon said.

She noted that many Mindanawons working in Luzon and the Visayas have relatives in Mindanao.

Dela Rosa earlier said he does not support the “separate and independent” Mindanao proposal of Duterte.

A staunch Duterte ally, Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during the early part of the Duterte administration.

“On my part, personally, right now I don’t want to because I don’t want to get a visa if I go. I will visit my grandchildren here in Batangas,” Dela Rosa said.

(el Amigo/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)