Price freeze, quick release of cash aid pushed to combat hunger

A March survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that “involuntary hunger” experienced by Filipino families rose to 14.2 percent from 12.6 percent last December. (INQUIRER.NET/JEROME CRISTOBAL)

Updated on May 2, 2024 at 12:48 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines — The reported rise in the number of Filipino families experiencing “involuntary hunger” has led some senators to push for various measures, including the imposition of a price freeze on basic commodities during the El Niño season.

A March survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that  “involuntary hunger” experienced by Filipino families rose to 14.2 percent from 12.6 percent last December.

“The rise of involuntary hunger is truly concerning and disheartening,” Senate Majority Leader  Joel Villanueva said in a statement on Thursday.

To combat this problem, Villanueva said the government should take steps to curb inflation and review the regional wages, as earlier ordered by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos himself.

“First, we need to implement policies on how to curb inflation, such as boosting domestic production of basic commodities. Kasama rito ang pagpapaigting ng mga patubig na programa ng bansa at pagpapalakas ng ating agrikultura,” he said.

“Second, we echo the call of President Marcos to review our existing regional wages in light of present circumstances,” added the senator.

For  Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, the latest survey showed that many Filipinos are now living in poverty.

“Marami ng naghihirap. Pinalala pa ng El Niño at ng sobrang init ang kahirapan ng taong bayan,” Pimentel said in another statement.

(Many are already suffering. The hardship of the people is further exacerbated by El Niño and the extreme heat.)

To help ease the sufferings of poor Filipinos, he urged the government to accelerate the welfare programs for the people like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation.

(Accelerate, give it now, so that the citizens can use it to combat hunger, poverty, and the extreme heat.)

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, meanwhile, attributed the increased involuntarily hunger to inflation and the high costs of basic commodities, which, he said, is also partly because of El Niño.

“In order to lower ‘involuntary hunger,’ government must be able to lower and curb inflation…” Escudero said in another statement.

While  supporting the government’s initiative to help workers cope with the inflation, Senator Francis Tolentino  underscored the need to arrest the high prices of commodities such as rice.

“I support the said PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) initiative to enable our workers to cope with the current inflation bearing in mind the employers’ sustainable business position,” Tolentino said in another message.

“At the same time, I call for a price freeze of basic commodities to include rice for the duration of the El Niño season,’” he said.