The Malabon City local government unit (LGU), Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) distributed financial aid to 87 rice retailers at Malabon City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 14.


According to Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandova, the city government and the national agencies conducted a thorough validation process to ensure that the beneficiaries are selling rice at the prescribed price ceiling -- P41 per kilogram for regular milled rice and P45 per kilogram for well-milled rice.
The price cap was mandated by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.' through Executive Order 39 implemented on Sept. 5.
The LGU said that the 87 rice retailers received P15,000 each.


Sandoval called on the national government to make sure that there is a steady supply of rice with prices set by the EO 39.
“Syempre ang akin namang hinihiling sana magkaroon ng steady supply ng rice na aabot dun sa presyo ng Executive Order 39, para naman magtuloy-tuloy. Hindi naman siya realistic pag wala namang magsu-supply ng bigas (Of course, what I'm hoping for is a steady supply of rice with prices set by EO 39, so that it can be sustained. It wouldn't be realistic if there's no one supplying rice at that price),” she said.
The city government has affirmed its commitment to closely monitor the enforcement of EO 39 in Malabon.