Rice prices to stabilize in two months, says
Palace
Malacanang said on Monday that rice prices are
expected to stabilize in the next two months.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said that the National Food Authority (NFA) is
monitoring the situation.
“Tinututukan ng NFA ang galaw ng presyo ng
bigas, at ayon sa kanila, ito ay dulot ng market forces, dahil ito ay
low-season ng supply at inaasahan nilang magi-stabilize ito kapag dumating na
‘yung inangkat na bigas mula sa ibang bansa, at inaasahan nilang magi-stabilize
ang presyo sa susunod na dalawang buwan,” said Coloma in a press briefing.
Rice prices have reportedly increased by PHP2,
bringing the average retail price of well-milled rice to PHP42.19 per kilo, and
milled rice to PHP38.93 per kilo.
As for the prices of garlic and ginger, Coloma
said the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry are
closely watching the movement in their prices.
“Mayroong mga suggested retail prices para sa
mga bagay na ito at hindi natin pahihintulutan na maging labis ang pagsingil o
walang katuwiran,” he explained.
The price per kilo of garlic has reportedly
reached as much as PHP300.
“Dahil nga ang pinag-uusapan dito ay mga prime
commodities, masinsing tinututukan ito ng ating pamahalaan para tiyakin na
walang magiging pinsala sa kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan,” said Coloma. PND
(ag)
Palace on accounting of foreign aid for Ondoy
victims: We are transparent
The Palace said all funds received by the
government for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy had been channeled to the National
Treasury, and people are welcome to check how the donations had been spent.
“Ang mga pondong ito ay maaaring gastusin nang
naaayon lamang sa patakarang itinakda ng batas. Alinsunod sa prinsipyo ng
mabuting pamamahala, bukas at hayag ang talaan o record ng pamahalaan hinggil
sa paggastos ng ganitong mga pondo,” Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during Monday’s press briefing.
Coloma was commenting on reports that a group of
lawmakers is calling on the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III
to account for the PHP16-billion foreign aid for victims of Typhoon Ondoy.
The group said that although the typhoon struck
Metro Manila and nearby provinces in 2009, the bulk of the foreign aid was
given in 2010 when President Aquino was already in power.
Coloma said that it is the duty of the
Commission on Audit to examine how the funds had been spent.
He further said that the government is one with
the group “in their advocacy that there should be transparency of information
and accountability of public funds.”
The group is led by Leyte 1st District
Congressman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, whose constituents were affected by
Typhoon Yolanda. Romualdez is also the nephew of former First Lady Imelda
Marcos. PND (ag)
Palace says government is serious in addressing
crimes in the country
Malacanang has assured that the government is
working to solve and prevent crimes from happening in the country.
"What I can say is that the President takes
a very serious and hands-on attitude when it comes to crime and police
matters," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr. told reporters during a press briefing on Monday.
Coloma was answering questions on the
administration's response to the spate of crimes occurring in the country,
including the recent killing of a mayor in Pangasinan and a police major in
Quezon City.
"I have been with the President on several
occasions and I have actually witnessed him call up a particular officer to
inquire about an incident report or to make sure that a serious crime is being
handled properly and with utmost urgency," Coloma said.
This is a matter of serious concern that should
prompt our law enforcement authorities to boost their crime prevention efforts,
he said.
The Palace official also called for intensified
public vigilance, saying that effective crime prevention requires the people to
cooperate with law enforcers.
"Kinakailangan din siguro ‘yung mas masinop
na police intelligence work para masubaybayan ang mga kilos ng mga criminal
elements that have been under surveillance," he added.
The public has called for increased police
visibility, following recent killings in the country. PND (as)
