IPINAGKIBIT-BALIKAT lamang ni National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan ang posibilidad na negatibong epekto sa ekonomiya ng El Niño phenomenon sa susunod na taon ngunit aminado itong posibleng tumaas pa ang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin.

“With respect to growth, the effect on the economy, I don’t think it will make a big [impact]…it will make an impact, but the challenge will be more on the prices,” ayon kay Balisacan.

“The big difference between 1997-1998 and now is that the relative share of agriculture in the economy is now much smaller. It’s something like 10% of the economy,” dagdag na pahayag nito, tinukoy ang matinding El Niño na tumama sa bansa noong 1997 hanggang 1998.

Ang pahayag na ito ni Balisacan ay tugon sa sinabi ni Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. na may 65 lalawigan sa bansa ang maaaring makaranas ng tagtuyot sa susunod na taon dahil sa El Niño.

Tinuran ni Balisacan na ang Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IAC-IMO) ay masusing imo-monitor ang sitwasyon at handang gamitin ang lahat ng kagamitan ng gobyerno maging ang trade policy tools upang maibsan ang epekto ng El Niño phenomenon.

“If food prices go up next year, such as when inflation accelerated to as fast as 8.7% in January 2023,” ayon pa rin kay Balisacan. “We go back again to the old cycle of high inflation, high interest rate, low demand, low growth. We don’t want that,” aniya pa rin.

(CHRISTIAN DALE)