President Marcos vows to keep inflation in check

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the easing inflation, President Marcos has vowed to keep the prices of basic commodities in check and reduce the cost of living to ease the burden on Filipinos.

The country’s inflation rate slowed down to 6.6 percent in April from 7.6 percent in March.

“We remain focused on our steps aimed at easing the daily problems of our countrymen and ensuring a more convenient tomorrow for all,” the

President tweeted in Filipino yesterday.

In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ ASEAN Leadership Forum in Washington on Thursday, Marcos said national security is no longer simply about territorial defense, but also economic stability.

He said the Philippines is poised to achieve upper-middle income status in the next one or two years.

Under his administration, Marcos said he hopes to make the Philippines the 16th largest economy in the world by 2040.

“For more than a hundred million Filipinos, ensuring their economic well-being and uplifting their quality of life has always been the priority of this administration,” the Chief Executive said.

“We continue to work on finding synergies and aligning our efforts to sustain our economic momentum and secure inclusive development, by expaanding cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, energy, infrastructure and to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, to navigate and manage regional and global security challenges,” Marcos said.