Camille Naredo

Vendors sell vegetables at the Luzon Market in Quezon City as consumers seek affordable food options amid rising prices driven by inflation. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Vendors sell vegetables at the Luzon Market in Quezon City as consumers seek affordable food options amid rising prices driven by inflation.

Inflation quickened to 1.8 percent in December according to a report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

INFLATION - FOOD- VEGETABLES

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Makabayan lawmakers raised concerns over House Bill 8834, or the Kalinga bill, meant to address the impact of the conflict in the Middle East (West Asia), calling it a mere “band-aid response” to the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/5/inflation-quickens-to-7-2-percent-in-april-0906">7.2 percent inflation rate in April</a>.</p><p>A statement from ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, Gabriela party-list Representative Sarah Elago, and Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co says the measure leans on “short-term, stopgap responses” and calls emergency powers “prone to abuse.”</p><p>“In plain terms, this is a dangerous setup where an economic crisis becomes the pretext for concentrating more power in Malacañang. As we have repeatedly seen under this administration, emergency powers and discretionary fund realignments can be used to bypass public scrutiny,” the statement reads.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/17/solon-bats-for-2-month-vat-suspension-on-oil-products-1841">READ: Solon bats for 2-month VAT suspension on oil products</a></div><p>The Makabayan bloc also called on the House to scrutinize the bill.</p><p>“We push for concrete, immediate, and structural interventions: repeal or substantially amend RA 8479 to end oil deregulation, impose windfall taxes on oil profiteers, implement price caps on fuel and basic goods during crisis periods, provide universal and adequate subsidies for transport workers and affected sectors, and pass substantial wage increases to restore purchasing power,” the lawmakers said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OMNIBUS LAW TO TACKLE OIL PRICE SHOCK</strong></div><p>House Committee on Ways and Means Chairperson Miro Quimbo said there will be a “new omnibus law” to tackle oil price shocks before Congress goes on break.</p><p>Prior to this, Quimbo mentioned that a consolidated Kalinga bill will be ready by next week. </p><p>“We are sure that by next week, we will come up with a consolidated Kalinga Bill that will address itong ating energy crisis in the short term, in the medium term, and in the long term,” Quimbo said after the House Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Energy Action and Development meeting on Tuesday.</p><p>“Bago po mag-break ang kongreso, we will have a new omnibus law that will tackle itong oil price shock and how to protect our economy,” Quimbo added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/5/marcos-wants-rice-prices-tamed-to-temper-inflation-palace-1754">READ: Marcos wants rice prices tamed to temper inflation—Palace</a></div><p>The session is set to adjourn at the House of Representatives by June 6th.</p><p>During the hearing, Quimbo said the target for the second reading of the measure is on May 21.</p><p>“We are targeting to have second reading by May 21. And then the reason for that is that so we have sufficient time to do a bicameral conference with our colleagues in the Senate,” Quimbo said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PROPOSAL ON WAGE RELIEF</strong></div><p>Elago also flagged the supposed need for a change in allegedly “very broad” wording for cash assistance. </p><p>“Very broad– ang sabi direct cash assistance, pero iba kasi ‘yung epekto nung wage relief. Maaari niyang matugunan ‘yung puwang na nalikha ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin doon sa pagiging mababa ng sahod… Sa tamang panahon, tayo ay magpo-propose na magdagdag dito ng lengguwahe ng wage relief para direkta na makatulong sa ating manggagawa,” Elago said.</p><p>Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Patricia Caunan, meanwhile, raised concerns over the need for supplemental funding in relation to the emergency repatriation fund and the action fund in relation to the crisis. </p><p>“Aaminin din po namin na ‘pag nagkaroon po ng escalation… baka mas magamit namin ang pondo at hindi namin ma-stretch, Mr. Chair, hanggang third or fourth week of June,” Caunan said.</p><p>House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos filed the Kalinga bill to establish the Komprehensibong Alalay sa Livelihood, Inflation, Negosyo at Goods Assistance program.</p><p>This refers to a response framework for essential goods supply security, as well as targeted assistance to vulnerable sectors, which activates once key crisis indicators are met, according to the Office of the House Speaker.</p><p>“Sa ganitong mekanismo, hindi na tayo maghihintay pang lumala ang sitwasyon bago kumilos. May malinaw na trigger points, may nakahandang hakbang, at may koordinasyon sa pagitan ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan… Tinitiyak ng KALINGA Program na sabay-sabay at magkaka-ugnay ang pagtugon—mula sa fuel stabilization, hanggang sa targeted assistance, suporta sa MSMEs, at pagpapatatag ng supply chains,” Dy said.</p>

<p>Makabayan lawmakers raised concerns over House Bill 8834, or the Kalinga bill, meant to address the impact of the conflict in the Middle East (West Asia), calling it a mere “band-aid response” to the 7.2 percent inflation rate in April.</p>

Makabayan lawmakers raised concerns over House Bill 8834, or the Kalinga bill, meant to address the impact of the conflict in the Middle East (West Asia), calling it a mere “band-aid response” to the 7.2 percent inflation rate in April.

Makabayan calls Kalinga bill ‘band-aid response’ to 7.2% inflation

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Makabayan calls Kalinga bill ‘band-aid response’ to 7.2% inflation

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 06, 2026 01:11 AM PHT

Read More:

inflation

Kalinga

Makabayan

House of Representatives

Middle East

fuel crisis

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