Economics
Duterte Signs Bills to Ease Inflation, Boost Central Bank Powers
- New law restores central bank ability to issue its own bonds
- Rice measures seen to trim 1 percentage point off inflation
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on Friday key economic measures that are seen to help lower rice prices, strengthen the central bank and bolster state revenues.
Duterte signed a bill that would remove caps on rice imports and boost supply of the staple grain, according to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. The measure is expected to help cool inflation, which in 2018 accelerated to the fastest pace in nine years and triggered one of the most aggressive monetary tightening responses in Asia.