MANILA – The Malacañang recently said that administration’s economic managers and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met to discuss the possibility of reducing taxes on meat and fish imports.
According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Arroyo and the economic officials discussed the measure as a means to curb the rising inflationary environment.
“To cushion the impact of rising prices, pushing for lower tariffs on meat and fish imports is one of the proposed measures discussed during the recent meeting between President Duterte’s economic managers and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” he said in a statement.
“The economic managers are happy to be continuing to be working closely with the leadership of the legislature,” he added.
Duterte last month said Arroyo asked him to address the rising consumer prices, which some have blamed on his comprehensive tax reform program.
This came as inflation hit its highest level in at least five years at 5.2 percent in June, with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) forecasting a 5.1- to 5.8-percent inflation range in July.
“Sa mula’t mula, abot-kayang pagkain ang hangad ng Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” said Roque. (GMA News)
