House Speaker Martin Romualdez emphasized that reducing food prices is an immediate concern for the government, calling it the administration’s “number one priority.”
His statement comes after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that while overall inflation was at 2.9 percent in January 2025, food inflation increased to 4.0 percent from 3.5 percent in December 2024.
“Lowering prices is not just a long-term goal, it’s an urgent need,” Romualdez said on Saturday.
He stressed that high food costs directly impact every Filipino household, making it the responsibility of public officials to ensure access to affordable goods. “When food and basic commodities are expensive, Filipino families suffer. As public servants, we must guarantee a sufficient and affordable food supply,” he said.
Romualdez also highlighted the importance of managing food supply effectively, noting that controlling inflation should not fall solely on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. “Addressing inflation is not just the job of the central bank. It must go hand in hand with smart management of food supply and other essential goods,” he added.
The House leader assured the public that steps are being taken to stabilize food prices and ensure a steady, predictable supply in the market.
