The current measures which give discounts on the import duty of basic goods seem to have little effect on the purchasing power of consumers. “Discounts have been given for some time now but we do not see a good result,” said President Simons who added that tackling the high costs of livelihood is a top priority of the government policy. The Simons administration is currently trying to figure out how the existing system can be improved so that the prices could drop in the retail stores. President Simons explained that her administration wants to make sure that tax cuts only benefit the importers or middlemen and not the consumers. She also.made it clear that making basic goods is not a once-only action but that it is part of a broad reform.