The Caloocan City government announced on Saturday, Sept. 9, that it will be distributing P5,000 cash assistance to registered micro retailers in the city who were affected by the new rice price cap policy mandated by the national government.

Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan said that the cash grant is in fulfillment of his promise to provide help to businesses and consumers upon the implementation of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order (EO) No. 39 (Imposition of Mandated Price Ceilings on Rice) in the country on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

“Nauna na po nating siniguro na sumusunod ang lahat ng mga rice retailers sa itinakdang presyo ng EO 39, ngayon naman po ay tinutupad lang din natin ang ating pangako na ang maliliit na negosyong apektado [ng Mandated Price Ceiling] ay bibigyan din natin ng tulong (We have previously made sure that all rice retailers are complying with the price set by EO 39. Now we are just fulfilling our promise that we will also assist the small businesses that are affected [by the Mandated Price Ceiling]),” Malapitan said.

“Asahan niyo po na hangga’t epektibo ang MPC, patuloy nating titiyakin na protektado ang karapatan ng mga mamimili kasabay ng pangangalaga rin sa interes ng mga lokal na negosyo (You may expect that as long as the MPC is effective, we will continue to ensure that the rights of consumers and the interests of local businesses are protected),” the local chief executive added.

The EO 39 sets the new price cap for regular milled rice at P41 per kilo and well-milled rice at P45 per kilo in private and public markets.

The order aims to protect traders, retailers and consumers from the alleged practice of illegal price manipulation, illegal importation,  hoarding, and overpricing of rice in the country.

On Wednesday, Sept. 6, Malapitan visited the Poblacion Public Market in the city to ensure the compliance of rice retailers to the new price cap.

Malapitan assured the public of the urgent approval of a local ordinance that will waive rents to be paid by small rice businesses and provide aid to residents affected by the mandated price ceiling.

“Isa po sa mga nakahanda nating tulong sa mga maliliit na tindahan ng bigas ang posibleng pagbawas sa mga renta na kanilang binabayaran. Tiyak po na sa plano nating ordinansa na ito, malaki ang matitipid sa gastusin nila habang epektibo pa rin ang MPC sa mga palengke (One of the things we have prepared to help small rice shops is a possible reduction on the rents they pay. We are sure that with this ordinance, they will save a lot of money while the MPC is still effective in the markets),” he said.

On Saturday, Malapitan led the distribution of the P15,000 cash aid from various national government agencies including the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Social Welfare and Development to registered rice retailers in Maypajo Public Market.