Biz sector calls for creative measures to soften inflation

Manufacturers and retailers of key commodities are calling for the institution of creative new measures to ease price pressures as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects last month’s inflation to likely hover around the 8.5 to 9.3 percent range.

In an interview Wednesday, Steven Cua, president of the Philip- pine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, said local food producers need support to lessen the country’s dependence on imported produce.

He said an over-reliance on food that is shipped in from abroad inevitably translates to higher retail prices.

“We really have to develop our own food production capabilities to protect the public against inflation,” he said.

Cua, whose group is composed mostly of medium-sized supermarkets nationwide, agreed that the BSP’s forecast accurately reflects actual price changes at the store front in February.

While volumes being sold by supermarkets remain largely unchanged despite price increases, he said consumers are noticeably inclined towards lower cost or sale items.

Lucito Chavez, president of the Asosasyon ng Panaderong Pilipino, appealed to the administration to offer soft loans and other affordable financing options to struggling community bakers.

He said many small bakeries are becoming

On Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 3 seeking to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution via Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass):

Nakakalungkot tayong

Pilipinas mahilig tayong sumama sa trade agreements. Binuksan natin ang bansa sa trade agreements pero ang nakakalungkot yung ating foreign investments, sarado pa

Binuksan natin ang ibang produkto sa ibang bansa pumasok sa atin pero yung investment na galing sa ibang bansa hindi natin pinayagang pumasok dito. Dapat sabay yan na pumasok, trade and investment.”

Unlike land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), a Filipino seafarer is required to make an allotment which shall be at least 80 percent of the seafarer’s monthly basic salary, payable once a month to his designated allottee in the Philippines.

The issue of seafarers remittances as mandatory while it is only voluntary for the land based OFWs was raised during the second “AHOY Training and Immersion Course” organized by the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) held from February 20 to 25, 2023 in Pasay.

ICMA is a free association of 29 charitable organizations working for the welfare of seafarers, fishers and their families. These organizations represent various Christian churches and communities that operate in more than 400 seafarers’ centers in more than 100 countries.

ICMA was founded in 1969 to encourage collaboration and mutual assistance among seafarers’ ministry organizations.

It is the mission of ICMA to promote unity, peace and tolerance as it is the duty of every chaplains, ship visitors, and volunteers and advocates for seafarers’ welfare to serve the stakeholders regardless of nationality, religion, culture, gender or ethnic origin.

Due to the high number of Filipino seafarers who visit port based welfare centers around the world, the training course allowed participants to gain a first-hand knowledge of Filipino seafarers’ social and cultural