Mantika politics

Two things that people here in the Philippines are very concerned about---the rising prices of basic commodities and the increasing number of firms closing due to the recession. Prices of rice, chicken, beef and canned goods have risen to astronomically ridiculous heights. Gasoline prices, which some experts including Consumer Oil Price Watch head Raul Concepcion said were overpriced by 8 pesos, are spiralling out of control. What happened to the Senate probe? What happened to calls for these big oil companies to open their books? Nada. Our leaders are really a useless lot.

What's worst---government admits that vegetable and meat dealers are raking huge profits with these price hikes---and they're not doing anything. DZMM interviewed Department of Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap this morning and he admitted that, indeed, suppliers and sellers in the markets are making a killing. DA is not doing anything about it and surely, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is likewise,inutile.

There are, however, some doubts expressed by some people, suspicion even. They say that prices of goods were artificially raised now so that come the SONA, prices will again "normalize". Mrs. Arroyo would then be able to say that job accomplished. Kumbaga, lulutuin muna tayo ng pamahalaan sa matataas na presyo ng mga bilihin ngayon para pagdating ng Hulyo 27, uutusan ng pangulo ang DTI na pipiliting maibaba ang mga presyong ito para maging accomplishment ng administrasyon. Galing ano?

14.50 per kilowatt hours

In Korina Today, Oil Price Watch head Raul Concepcion said that an additional 9.50 per kilowatt hour will be charged by Meralco. The new rate will happen starting February. Expect also another round of price increases by as much as 6 pesos per liter. Concepcion said, they expect this due to the rising price of crude in the world market.

Wake up Mr. Concepcion. Look at the indexes today. The price of oil is decreasing. Yes, it reached 100/barrel. And some say it is the new base. However, don't help the big oil companies by saying that we should expect a 6 peso increase. You are unwittingly taking part in this nefarious scheme of conditioning the minds of the people.

Again, I repeat my previous plea to Arroyo---convene an economic summit now. Prepare for the impending economic crisis which will hit us as soon as the US economy plunges into deep recession. Convene it now. Plan for safety nets especially for OFW families who will be the first casualties. If you will not prepare now, you'll find yourself in the midst of a crisis which you will find hard to get out from.