MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is readying an executive order (EO) that will remove the administrative constraints and non-tariff barriers on importation of fish, rice, sugar, meat and vegetables in a bid to cushion the impact of inflation on basic goods. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the economic cluster will submit to the Office of the President a draft EO that was agreed upon during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The top contributors to inflation include tobacco, operation of personal transport equipment, fish and seafood, vegetables, non-alcoholic beverages, electricity and fuel, rice and house rentals. “This plan to allow open importation of sugar will depress sugar prices again and we may not be able to survive another crisis,” Tayo said. These are Chevron Philippines Inc. (Caltex), Filpride, Jetti Petroleum, Petron Corp., Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., PTT Philippines Corp., Seaoil Philippines Inc., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Total Philippines and Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc., the agency said.

Source: Philippine Star September 12, 2018 15:51 UTC