SIQUIJOR (PIA) – The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) here, together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), met with local rice wholesalers and retailers to discuss the implementation of the rice price cap as mandated under Executive Order No. 39.
During the meeting held September 12, 2023 at the SP Session Hall of the Siquijor Capitol, representatives from DTI and DSWD disclosed that not one of the rice retailers in the province have complied with EO No. 39.
Issued on August 31, Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. issued EO No. 39, mandating a price ceiling of P41 for regular milled rice and P45 for well-milled rice.
The order took effect on September 5, 2023.
The said EO states that DTI, together with the Department of Agriculture (DA), must ensure the implementation of the rice price caps, including monitoring and investigation.
The rice retailers, during the meeting, lamented that the new rice price cap has affected them because they have already purchased more stocks of rice at a higher price only to sell it at a lower price.
But DTI assured that the retailers who have been identified and certified by the recent price cap have been endorsed by their office to DSWD for them to be eligible for the cash assistance under the latter’s Sustainable Livelihood Program-Economic Relief Subsidy.
DTI has also negotiated with the wholesalers to lower their price so that retailers can sell at the prescribed prices of P41 and P45.
"Nangita mi'g pamaagi nga maka-comply si Siquijor at least naa ta diri available nga rice nga tag P41 ug tag P45 (We are finding ways for Siquijor province to comply, at least we have available rice with those prescribed prices),” said DTI Provincial Director Juliet B. Banogon.
She added that they will include in their list the qualified retailers who will commit to comply with the rice price cap.
Atty. Dale Louis Tudtud, chief of staff of the Provincial Government and OIC Provincial Tourism Officer, also stressed the need to ensure the availability of staple foods.
“There is nothing more important than to ensure that people have access to staple food everyday," he said.
Tudtud said that no matter how important tourism is, essential goods and services, especially food, should not be taken for granted.
After the discussion, retailers committed to comply with EO No. 39 but limiting to sell only two kilos of rice per person and two sacks per day to ensure that there is enough rice stocks.
For more details regarding the program, the public may reach the DSWD Region 7 at (032) 233 0261 or email fo7@dswd.gov.ph. (RAC/MFH/PIA7 Siqujor)
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