Apologists for President Rodrigo Duterte have errantly minimized as “not alarming” the impact of the inordinately high 5.2% inflation rate in June.

Inflation rate over 2.0% is always problematic because it stifles the economy even as the already low purchasing power of the poor is further eroded as prices of goods and services, particularly the basic items, continue to skyrocket.

Higher inflation is one of the prime barometers of the economy as it negates growth, devalues the people’s savings both in banks and private vaults, weakens investments, depresses foreign exchange, increases debt service, and reduces the real value of wages.

The prescription of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque not to worry about the highest inflation rate in five years because people have more money to spend from additional income tax exemptions under the Tax Reform from Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) and free tuition fee in public colleges and universities (SUCs) is a grand deception.

The masses who constitute the overwhelming majority of consumers have not benefitted from the new round of income tax exemptions because lowly-paid workers have long enjoyed tax reliefs.

The P200 unconditional cash transfer to poor families monthly under the TRAIN law is too minuscule to offset spiraling prices of goods and services.

The free tuition fee for college education is only a percentage of the total expenses for a college student who has to spend for board and lodging, transportation, meal allowance, and books and instructional materials.

Moreover, since students from well-off families enjoy the same free tuition in SUCs, they crowd out the ones coming from poor families who are less prepared to pass qualifying entrance examinations.

Data also show that there are more students enrolled in private universities and colleges who are not accommodated in SUCs or prefer private education.

In 2014, 66% of college students were enrolled in private institutions of higher learning. A similar percentage prevails today.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN