The Department of Agriculture (DA)-2 inspected markets in Cagayan Valley or Region 2 to check compliance with the rice price cap under Executive Order No. 39 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
DA-2 Director Rose Mary Aquino said they, along with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Food Authority (NFA), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), visited markets in four provinces – Cagayan, Quirino, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya – starting September 5, the day the measure took effect.
Aquino said they noticed some vendors selling well-milled rice at P52 per kilo while others were able to comply with the P41 to P45 price ceiling for regular and well-milled rice.
Authorities issued a Notice of Non-Compliance to vendors who failed to comply with the price ceiling.
Aquino said it is not immediately mandatory to put the price of rice at P41 or P45 per kilo because they will issue additional rules after monitoring and reporting.
Among the reasons cited by vendors for non-compliance with the price cap is their purchase of rice from suppliers at a high price and ceiling of P2 to P3.