Christmas in crisis? Palace says crisis is global, not unique to PH

MANILA— Can Filipinos expect a happy Christmas despite slow economic growth, high inflation, and rising unemployment?

The Palace acknowledges the crises the country is facing, but said these aren’t unique to the Philippines.

“Ang nangyayaring krisis ay hindi lang po ito sa Pilipinas — global po ito,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

(The crisis is not just in the Philippines — this is global.) 

Castro said the government is undertaking several measures to ensure inflation — the rate that prices rise —  is in check.

She said among those measures is working to keep rice prices stable. 

“Kapag mababa ang presyo ng bigas, mas nagsasabayan eh ang presyo rin ng ibang mga commodities,” she said.

(If rice prices are low, the prices of other commodities will be stable too.)

She added government is working to ensure a steady supply of fuel, saying a shortage of petroleum products would have a huge effect on the economy.

The government is also ensuring key commodities will not hike prices as Christmas nears, she said.

The prices of up to 190 basic goods and prime commodities, including canned goods and milk, are not projected to increase in the remaining weeks of 2026.

The Palace was also asked about how the government is addressing slow economic growth compared to its ASEAN neighbors, with Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia posting higher growth rates.

Castro said that neighbors in the region may not be facing the challenges that the Philippines has.

“Hindi nila naranasan ang sunud-sunod na pagbaha, ang sunud-sunod na malakas na bagyo at iyong nararanasan natin ngayon na climate change,” she said.

(They do not experience frequent floods and typhoons. And the climate change we are experiencing now.)

She said that Singapore does not have to content with the effects of powerful typhoons.

 “So, hindi natin puwedeng ipagkumpara kung ano ang nararanasan ng Pilipinas sa nararanasan ng ibang bansa,” the Palace official said.

(So we cannot compare what the Philippines is going through to what other countries experience.)

She said the government is implementing several measures such as UPLIFT, and El Nino responses are in place.

“Hindi po nagpapabaya ang gobyerno,” she said.

(The government has not been neglectful of its duty.)