The Department of Agriculture on Thursday boasted of 95 percent compliance by rice retailers to Executive Order 39 capping the price of the staple to a set number.
“So far as of yesterday, September 6, we have a 95 percent success rate, which means the retailers complied. That is 95 percent because we cannot avoid those retailers who resist” the price caps, DA spokesperson Willie Ann Angsiy, said.
The DA official did not bother to explain how the compliance rate was derived but said the agency “will continue to disseminate information to explain to them the importance of following the price cap. They will also be provided with financial assistance if they follow.”
Angsiy also acknowledged the issues raised by retailers and that the appropriately priced rice observing the mandated ceilings have only a limited supply.
While such supply is limited, Angsiy said the DA partly addresses this matter “with direct market linking between farmers and millers to the retailers as well as the provision of trucks from government agencies to help in logistical requirements.”
She said that apart from the proposed P15,000 assistance to affected rice retailers coursed through the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Interior and Local Government is also being tapped to extend financial assistance to local government units.
Angsiy said the local government of Quezon City, for instance, plans to waive rental charges rice retailers in various public market pay each month “as a form of assistance.”
Angsiy said EO 39 remains in effect for an indefinite period.
The monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region as of Wednesday show the price of local well-milled rice ranged from P45 to P55 per kilo while regular milled rice sell from a range of P40 to P52 per kilo.
The price of imported well milled rice ranged from P45 to 55 per kilo and regular milled from P41 to P45 per kilo.
