Fight for affordable food; let's all break our backs

The country's inflation dropped to a 66-month low in May. Unfortunately, food prices remain high.

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This should be a cause for concern. We must bear in mind that in the heart of every Filipino home, the dining table holds more than the meals we take-it symbolizes dignity, aspirations, and the enduring hope for a better life.

But for millions today, especially those living on the fringes, that table is slowly emptying. The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that inflation has dropped but this macroeconomic victory is not being felt inside the kitchen and the dining area of the average Filipino. On the contrary, the PSA said food prices remain elevated, volatile, and unforgiving-especially for the very people who can least afford them.

Meat prices rose by a staggering 7.9 percent in May 2025, largely due to prohibitively expensive pork. Fish and other seafood, long a staple of Filipino diets, posted an inflation of 5.7 percent. Mind you, these are not mere statistics. They represent mothers who stretch meals thinner than ever before, workers skipping breakfast to make ends meet, and children consuming less nutritious food that affects their learning, growth, and future.