Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon met with rice retailers, distributors, grocery owners and public market representatives on Sept. 5 to discuss President Marcos' order imposing a price ceiling on regular-milled and well-milled rice.
Marcos issued Executive Order No. 39 on Aug. 31 imposing a mandated price ceiling of P41 per kilo for regular-milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice. The rice price cap took effect on Sept. 5.
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon meeting with rice retailers, distributors, grocery owners and public market representatives on Sept. 5 to discuss President Marcos' rice price cap order (Photos from Muntinlupa PIO)
Prices of rice at Alabang Central Market as of Aug. 30 (Photo from Muntinlupa PIO)
Biazon said the dialogue and consultation with rice sellers discussed the implementation of the President’s order.
However, the rice sellers did not say if they would follow Marcos' order.
"The sellers were silent on following the pricing. They were more vocal on the loss they will incur in selling at a price that is way below their current profitable rate," said Biazon.
In a separate Facebook post, Biazon said following the price ceiling has put rice sellers in a difficult situation as they would face a loss of income for rice stocks that they bought at a higher price, the mayor said.
“Masalimuot ang sitwasyon para sa mga may stocks na nabili nila sa mas mataas na presyo tapos papatawan ng price cap na ₱41 para sa regular milled rice at ₱45 para sa well milled rice. (The situation is complicated for those with stocks that they bought at a higher price then being imposed a price cap of P41 for regular milled rice and P45 for well milled rice),” Biazon wrote.
Price monitoring of basic commodities by the Muntinlupa City government at Alabang Central Market showed that as of Aug. 30, local regular-milled rice was priced at P50 per kilo and local well-milled rice was at P54 per kilo.
Imported regular-milled rice was at P52 per kilo and imported well-milled rice was at P58 per kilo.
In the order, Marcos said “the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have reported that the country's rice supplies have reached a stable level and are sufficient owing to the arrival of rice imports and expected surplus on local rice production.”
But the EO added that “despite the steady supply of rice, the DA and DTI have also reported that the widespread practice of alleged illegal price manipulation, such as hoarding by opportunistic traders and collusion among industry cartels in light of the lean season, as well as global events taking place beyond the Philippines' control, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India's ban on rice exportation, and the unpredictability of oil prices in the world market, among other factors, have caused an alarming increase in the retail prices of this basic necessity.”
“The current surge in retail prices of rice in the country has resulted in a considerable economic strain on Filipinos, particularly those who are underprivileged and marginalized,” according to the EO.
The DA and DTI recommended imposing price ceilings on rice in the whole country.
The EO added that “in light of the current situation, it is crucial and urgent for the State to guarantee that basic necessities are not only sufficient but also reasonably priced and conveniently accessible to every Filipino.”
According to the EO, “The mandated price ceilings shall remain in full force and effect unless earlier lifted by the President upon the recommendation of the Price Coordinating Council or the DA and DTI.”
The DTI and DA are mandated to “ensure the strict implementation of the mandated price ceilings on rice in the market, including monitoring and investigation of abnormal price movements thereof, and provision of assistance to affected retailers.”
“The Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies shall render the necessary support and assistance to the DTI and DA to ensure the immediate and effective enforcement of this Order,” the EO added.