Palace says Marcos told agencies to prioritise food, fuel and electricity after inflation hit 7.2 percent
Castro said Marcos ordered agencies to ensure enough food, fuel and electricity, and that he met Exec. Sec. Ralph Recto (OneNews, Philstar). Drivers cited: the Middle East conflict, disasters, tighter rice supply, higher transport costs and weather disruptions to fish and vegetable supply. Existing measures include removing 12% VAT from the system loss charge in electricity bills and the UPLIFT program.
Food and fuel are the biggest items in household budgets, so supply promises matter more than price targets.
Expect the focus to be on supply, not price caps. Check which relief programs you may qualify for.
Prioritising supply is the right first step because shortages would push prices higher.
Without new measures, a directive is not relief; the Tribune noted the president said easing cannot be guaranteed this year.
Judge the response by deliverables: rice import decisions, fuel stock levels and power bills. A directive is not a plan until it names measures and dates.
DailyDrop Philippines edition No. 5 · Morning · FRI., OCT. 9, 2026