By Argyll Cyrus Geducos President Duterte said he is assuming full responsibility over the still rising prices of oil and other basic commodities. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a dinner he hosted for the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Incorporated (PMAAAI) at the Malacañan Palace on October 4, 2018.
(ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Duterte issued the statement amid government efforts to temper the effects of the rising inflation to the ordinary Filipino. In his speech before Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumni in Malacañang, Duterte said that he has been trying to explain why prices of goods continue to rise. "I am trying to explain to everybody and you would notice it that every time there is an increase in oil, everything increases. That’s what about --- inflation is all about," he said Thursday evening. However, Duterte said he will not be making an excuse and took full responsibility because he is the one leading the country. "Wala man akong masabi (there's nothing I can say) but I assume for responsibility for the rising prices because I am the --- I am here. I am the worker assigned here to answer for all of these things," he said. "Wala man rin akong magawa na (there's also nothing I can because) every time there’s a rise of oil, everything also rises," he added. Duterte, meanwhile, said he will not renege on his fight against corruption in government as it will also help the country. "Dito ako mag-concentrate sa corruption. (This is where. I am doing it. For God’s sake, I am doing it). Earlier, Malacañang said that the administration will now sideline their push for federalism for the time being so the government can focus on devising measures to address the country's rising inflation. Last week, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that everything would have to take the back seat in order for the government to address the rising price of daily commodities. "Well of course, right now the foremost priority of the administration is fighting inflation. So everything is sidelined now dahil hindi naman natin talaga inaasahan 'yung pagtaas bigla ng presyo ng krudo at ng petrolyo (because we did not expect the sudden increase in the price of crude and petroleum)," he said. "I would say that even the administration acknowledges na mas importanteng harapin 'yung problema na mas malapit sa sikmura ng taumbayan (that it is more important to address the problems concerning the stomachs of the people)," he added. However, he assured that the administration, particularly President Duterte, is not just sleeping on the issue and is doing everything it can to address the issue on inflation which surged to 6.4 percent last month. "Napansin po namin na talagang concerned ang Pilipino sa pagtaas ng presyo. Gaya ng sinasabi po namin, kinikilala po namin ang problema sa pagtaas ng presyo, pero ang assurance po, hindi po natutulog sa pansitan ang ating Presidente. (We noticed that the people are really concerned about the rising prices of goods. Like what we said, we recognize the issue and we assure that the President is not just sleeping on it)," he said. Roque mentioned the different steps President Duterte has taken, including the issuance of executive and administrative orders, this past month to address the rising inflation. These include bringing back the National Food Authority (NFA) to the Department of Agriculture (DA), and removing non-tariff barriers and streamlining procedures on the importation of agricultural products. "Kampante po kami na sisipa po ang epekto nitong mga hakbang na ginawa natin. (We are confident that the effects of these measures will take effect soon)," he said, adding that he noticed that price of goods in the local markets have substantially decreased.