Marcos OKs recommendation to cap imported milled rice at P50
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. holds a meeting with Cabinet members at Malacañan Palace. (Malacañang Photo)
President Marcos announced that he has approved the recommendation to cap the price of imported well-milled rice at P50 per kilo.
In a video message on Tuesday, March 31, Marcos said an executive order will be issued to formalize the price ceiling on rice.
"Nagrekomenda na ang National Price Coordinating Council ng price cap na PhP50 bawat kilo sa imported na well-milled rice at ilalabas natin ang Executive Order para maipatupad na ito sa lalong madaling panahon (The National Price Coordinating Council has already recommended a price cap of P50 per kilo for imported well-milled rice, and we will issue an executive order to implement this as soon as possible)," Marcos said.
This, as he recognized that when oil prices rise, food prices follow.
"Iyon ang ayaw naming mangyari (That’s what we want to avoid)," he said, thus, he approved the price cap.
Marcos said the P20 rice program is also being expanded, citing that there are now 627 centers offering rice at P20 per kilo nationwide.
"Ito’y naging mas malawak dahil dati ang aming pino-provide sa P20 rice ay 600 tons, ay ngayon umakyat na sa 2,000 tons dahil tumaas ang demand (This has grown significantly because we used to provide 600 tons of rice under the P20 program, but it has now increased to 2,000 tons due to higher demand)," he said.
The President further said that the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities remain at suggested retail price (SRP) levels, including rice.
He assured the public that they continue to engage with manufacturers and retailers to hold off on any price increases until next month.