Mati City creates Task Force Bantay Presyo to enforce rice price cap
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The city government of Mati established on Monday, September 11, Task Force Bantay Presyo to ensure that rice traders fully adhere to the price cap set by the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Mati City Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat issued Executive Order (EO) No. 82, Series of 2023, which mandates the enforcement of EO No. 39 imposing the rice price cap.
EO No. 39 issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on August 31 signifies Marcos' endorsement of the collaborative proposal from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to establish price limits on rice across the nation.
EO No. 82 covers all individuals and businesses, registered or unregistered, engaged in the sale, marketing, and distribution of rice, including, but not limited to traders, retailers, wholesalers, dealers, “sari-sari” stores, dry storage warehouses, and grains truck haulers.
Rabat said EO No. 82 also created a technical working group composed of various government agencies and law enforcement groups to conduct daily on-site price inspections and daily volume inventory on regular and well-milled rice, among others.
The Task Force Bantay Presyo, composed of the DTI, DA, personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Public Safety, Land Transportation Office (LTO), and National Food Authority (NFA), was also created to enforce the price ceiling on rice as per EO No. 39.
"Financial assistance to affected traders will meanwhile be given by the DTI and DSWD guidelines," Rabat said, adding that the city is set to meet with the affected rice traders on Wednesday, September 13, to ensure their cooperation.