Inflation is expected to remain "very low" this year, Malacañang said on Tuesday, as it pledged to implement tougher measures against smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin made the statement when asked about the high price of tomatoes in the market.
"According to the data, the supply is sufficient, but the price is not decreasing. It is still rising. So we actively prosecute hoarders. But this is only part of the explanation," said Bersamin in a press briefing in Malacañang.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is confident that the inflation rate will "remain very low," he said.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the price of tomatoes has reached P360 per kilo.
Based on the DA's monitoring of markets in Metro Manila, the price of medium-sized tomatoes is around P20 per piece.
Inflation in the country accelerated to 2.9 percent in December, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Ang inflation rate noong Disyembre ay bahagyang tumaas mula sa 2.5 porsyento noong Nobyembre. Ito ay pangunahing dulot ng mas mataas na inflation rate sa pabahay, tubig, kuryente, gas, at iba pang panggatong.
Sinabi ni Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan na ang full-year rate na 3.2 porsyento ay nasa loob ng target na inflation rate ng Development Budget Coordination Committee na dalawa hanggang apat na porsyento hanggang 2028.
