Worsening economic situation being felt in RP

Expect prices of NFA rice to rise from the present 18 pesos per kilo to about 33 pesos. NFA is currently thinking of hiking the price of NFA rice to curb an expected 39 billion peso loss due to subsidizing the precious staple. A rice price hike would surely mess up the market prices particularly of commercial rice which is being retailed at prices between 39 to 60 pesos per kilo. If this plan pushes through, how will the poor cope up with this?

Also, analysts are predicting that the peso will breach the 50 peso per dollar mark before the year ends. That's good news for OFW's but bad news for business. Companies who rely on imported products may have to fork out more pesos to buy their stuff. Surely, that would impact on inflation, as generally companies would put the extra expense to consumers. Again, the domino effect--higher prices means higher inflation which may put a damper to the efforts being made to at least make the economic environment viable as an investment site.

Lastly, I'm seeing a noticeable decrease in local tourism due to the worsening economic situation. People are cutting back on travel expenses due to higher transpo and gas prices. Malls are benefitting from the cutbacks since people are milling to malls more than usual. The impact is obvious--lower tourism revenues mean decrease in government funds. Possible net effect--loss of jobs and bankruptcy among resorts and tourist-related industries.

Art Yap Did'nt Get it

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap was interviewed yesterday on the rising costs of rice. He's surprised why are we complaining when the price of a kilo of rice here costs "only" 35 to 45 pesos a kilo when overseas, he says, a kilo costs an average of 40 pesos. We should be thankful, he says.

Mr. Secretary, that is the most stupid and idiotic statement I have ever heard since the outbreak of this crisis. That, Mr. Secretary, is pure and simple callousness. It shows your lack of understanding of what's happening in this country today.

The issue, as your principal Gloria The Devil Infant says, is an issue of price. Yes, price. Why is it price? Because the average Pinoy can't afford the price of commercial rice, even if its "only" 35 pesos.

One needs at least 3,000 pesos just to eat enough rice for a month. This means that if I'm just being paid 10,000 pesos, I spend 30% of my income just for rice. How about electricity? How about viands? How about transportation? How about house rent? Or, how about the daily baon of my kids to school?

You and the rest of those who belong to the elite class would probably frown at 3,000. It could just be the equivalent of a day's restaurant bill. Or a fancy shoe.

For most of us, it's a struggle to get 3,000 pesos.

You are the worst agriculture secretary this country ever had. You don't know the issue. And you're simply too naive to even think that there's a majority of people right now who can't afford to eat what you're eating. You're simply not cut out for this job. Worst, you even have the gall to put yourself among the roster of senatoriables?

The people are not that stupid to vote a person like you in the senate. Or even in their barangays.