SIQUIJOR, Siquijor (PIA) — Siquijodnons are feeling the impact of soaring prices of goods and services as the purchasing power of peso has decreased to 0.80 in September 2023.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Siquijor Provincial Statistical Office, the actual value of P1,000 is only P800, leaving the average wage consumers struggling financially.
PSA revealed that the Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) in September 2023 is equal to the PPP during the same period in 2022, which is 0.85.
This means that a basket of goods and services worth P100 in 2018 is already worth P125.5 in September 2023.
PSA noted that rice is one of the main contributors to the food inflation together with corn, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals, taking 51.5% share or 5.31 percentage points.
Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses take the 18.8% share or 1.93 percentage points in the food inflation rate, while 12.0% share or 1.24 percentage point goes to fish and other seafood.
Helen Ates, a single mother of three and the breadwinner of her family in Siquijor town, feels the impact of the current inflation on her family’s budget, especially since her monthly income is insufficient to make ends meet.
“Tanan nga basic needs grabe gyud mura’g ni double ang price. As a solo parent of three, dili gyud halos makaya and kamahal sa mga palitonon grabe na gyud ka hugot ang bakus (The prices of all basic needs have doubled. As a solo parent, I struggle with the increasing prices of goods that I have to tighten the belt),” said Ates.
Siquijodnon consumers buying various goods at one of the stores in the municipal market of Siquijor. Although Siquijodnons are feeling the impact of soaring prices of goods and services, they are still able to cope with the help of the local and national governments. (PIA Siquijor)
Pantawid Pamilya
The national and local government agencies continue to extend various forms of support and assistance to help buffer the impact of the eroding purchasing power of Filipinos.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) provides conditional cash grants to qualified indigent families to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18.
DSWD is also implementing the Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation (AICS) program that offers food, medical, transportation, burial and other cash assistance to qualified individuals.
According to Anita Padon, a 4Ps beneficiary, the program has helped her family buy the basic necessities at home and learning the appropriate skills and knowledge for family development.
“Makapalit mi og bugas og ubang panginahanglan sa mga estudyante ingon man ang Family Development Sessionnakahatag og maayong pagtulon-an pra sa kaayuhan og kalambuan sa pamilya (We could now buy rice and other basic needs for our children, while we learned more about how we can strengthen our family through the Family Development Sessions),” said Padon.
Another 4Ps beneficiary, Marvelito Dongon Jr., is also thankful for the assistance he received from the government through the 4Ps, which helped him earn a degree.
“Dako kaayo ko’g pasalamat na member me ana kay nakahuman kog skwela, bisag unsa ka lisod naa ang goberno mohatag og assistance para matabangan ta (I’m so thankful that we became beneficiaries because it helped see me through school. No matter how hard things are, the government continues to give assistance to help us),” said Dongon.
Scholarships
Scholarships for poor but deserving students are also available.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) offers the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) under the Commission on Higher Education, while the Department of Education (DepEd) has the Senior High School Voucher Program.
TESDA scholar Dintna Calunod is thankful to the government for offering scholarships that students who come from low-income families can take advantage of.
“Para nako dako kaayo syang tabang, especially namong mga naka avail sa mga programs kay na enhance ug samot angskills and knowledge ug maka share pud sa nakat-onan sa ubang tawo (It’s a big help, especially to students like me who have availed of the program. It has helped further enhance our skills and knowledge, which we can share with other people),” said Calunod.
S&T grants
On the other hand, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is another national government agency that offers financial assistance and grants for various sectors.
One of DOST’s flagship programs is the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), which is open for Filipino entrepreneurs to address their needs and boost their productivity.
Another S&T program is the Community Empowerment for Science and Technology (CEST), which aims to provide livelihood for women’s associations, farmers, fisherfolks, and marginalized individuals in remote communities.
Food security
To establish a food-secured, self-sufficient and sustainable living, the Department of Agriculture (DA) supplements theneeds of farmers and fishers such as feeds, fertilizers, seeds and seedlings and other paraphernalia that are critical in cultivating and making farming or fishing opportune.
Households are also given seeds and seedlings that they may cultivate at home in response to the national government’s food security goal.
Emergency employment
The national government, through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is also offering a community-based package of assistance providing emergency employment for Filipinos.
Under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, DOLE offers emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers for a short period of time.
Ates herself had availed of various programs and services from the national and local governments. She attests that these programs have helped her and her family amid the challenging times.
“The TES itself grabe jud ang natabang sa akoa as a solo parent and at the same time a student. Life changing gyud ngafrom a solo parent nga naa ras four corners sa among balay, into a bachelor’s graduate. Ang TUPAD and ang DSWD assistance nakatabang pud financially nakapalit pud ug mga gamit sa mga bata (The TES has been a great help to me as I am a solo parent and a student at the same time. It’s been life changing for me as a solo parent. I now have a bachelor’s degree),” said Ates.
JVSV caravan
The Provincial Government of Siquijor, through the Joint Various Services and Venture (JVSV) caravan, provides residents with free medical dental and legal services.
JVSV also extends social welfare services such as distribution of language and writing materials for day-care center children and payout for youth under the Special Program on the Employment of Students (SPES).
The caravan also serves as an opportunity for farmers to sell their produce.
These are just few of the many government programs and services intended for the welfare of the people.
Despite the financial challenges that Siquijodnons encounter, they are still able to cope with these trials, especially with the help of the government.
A report from PSA presented during the October 18 meeting of the Provincial Statistics Committee (PSC) showed that poverty incidence among families in Siquijor province has gone down, from 7.2% in 2018 to 2.2% in 2021. (NRO/PIA7-Siquijor)
