Gut issues

By BenCyrus Ellorin .

THE Covid-19 pandemic and the paralysis brought by lockdowns to stymie the spread of what was once thought as a very deadly virus has not only affected our collective health, but also the economy.

As the public are hooked to the political circus which has been reduced to bipartisan polemics — the DDS and the Dilawan; government vs drugs; government vs communists, a generally bad economy is eating away the pockets — already tight to start with, of most Filipinos.

Then the African Swine Fever (ASF). Like the Sars Cov2 which has really not been controlled effectively, the ASF also exposed the reactive, generally weak agriculture sector. The typhoons that hit the country at the close of 2020 also contributed to the crises as crop production was stunted.

While we have been promised to have soonest the Covid 19 vaccine, there seems to be a war on who to supply, with groups, bandits actually trying to corner the lion’s share of the precious merchandise which resulted in the delays in procurement.

On Monday, the Senate made a probe on the skyrocketing prices of basic food products like pork meat and vegetables.

Sen. Franklin Pangilinan has consistently brought issues related to food security and agriculture in the Senate floor. He has proposed that drastic measures be made against profiteers in times of crisis. He even suggested the deputation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to go after food price manipulators and profiteers along with a price freeze of key food products.

Also on Monday, Malacañang issued Executive Order No. 124 ordering a 60-day price ceiling on some food items as follows: P270 for a kilo of kasim and pigue, P300 for a kilo of liempo, and P160 for a kilo of dressed chicken.

The DA’s Bantay Presyo monitored on Monday, rrior to EO 124, these prices: a kilo of pigue sold at P380, liempo at P425, and dressed chicken at P200.

There is an urgent sense in going beyond price freeze. I and my wife regularly go to the market and I noticed, at least thrice this year, that not only prices of meat have become very exorbitant, meat stalls in major malls have been near empty.

While vegetable and fruits seem to be available, prices are also exorbitant.

Supply and demand are basic in price behavior. I think, there is more than what meets the eye in these skyrocketing food prices.

There should be a serious look at the supply side. I would surmise, there could some “mystery” there. It is not farfetched that some traders, middlemen are manipulating supply to hike prices and for them to rake higher than usual profits.

They should be punished. This is where we need the strong force of the law being swaggered by the present administration.

People would appreciate if masampolan kining mga price manipulators and profiteers. Pwedi ba? I think so, if may gusto. I hope no more excuses which suddenly become abundant when authorities turn a blind eye or wants to look the other way.
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The woes of Covid – or 2020 – are far from over. While we may have developed some degree of resiliency to the virus through minimum public health standard practices, things may go further south before it gets better.

Economists are pushing the red button with the contraction of the economy getting at par with post World War 2 Philippines. World War 2 raged and ravaged the country for over five years. Covid is just a year old. This is a wake-up call.

Business, the boom that we have seen doesn’t look good. Aside from food prices skyrocketing and wet market shelves, almost empty, many mall locators have shut down or reduced operations. At a major mall for example, long queues at the counters is not because of the deluge of shoppers, but because only a few cashier booths are open.

I have observed since Christmas that for big carts, out of the seven or so cashier counters, only two or three are open. That speaks a lot. It could mean, half or more than half of the workforce are mobilized. I heard, while no job cuts were done, mall workers go on three – four-day shifts weekly instead of the usual six-day a week duty. That should translate to 40-60 reduction in monthly income. Sad.

While generally we are happy to see “sale,” not all are. While there seems to be many “sales” around malls, these are clearance sales daw. One store attendant I talked with responded: “Clearance sale man kuno ni, sir, pero ipahurot nalang kuno stocks,” she said wryly.

At times like this, this is where governance takes the challenge. We do do need leaders who are astute in economics and business to ensure an enabling economic and business environment.

The people can only tighten their belts so much before getting pressed to the bones.