September 06, 2023
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos yesterday led the inspection at Mega Q-Mart public market and Save More Supermarket in Quezon City to check the compliance of rice retailers to Executive Order (EO) No. 39 on the first day of its implementation.
EO 39 issued by Malacañang on August 31 set the mandated price ceilings for regular milled rice at ₱41 per kilogram and well-milled rice at ₱45 per kilogram nationwide upon the recommendation of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“On the first day, we encourage the resellers na makiisa muna sila. Sa mga susunod na araw, mas magiging mahigpit tayo. Pero ngayon, aming panawagan, makiisa muna kayo,” Abalos said.
He assured rice retailers that the price ceiling is only temporary and a stopgap measure to ensure that rice as a basic necessity is accessible and reasonably priced for Filipinos.
“Ito’y para sa lahat, para kay Juan Dela Cruz ito. Narerecognize ng Pangulo na may maliliit na retailers ang tatamaan, huwag silang mag-alala. Nakikita niya na dapat tuloy-tuloy ang supply ng bigas, dapat maganda ang presyo, at the same time, nauunawaan niya ang kalagayan ng mga bumili ng mahal at asahan n’yo po, gagalaw ang national government, tutulong po rito,” he said.
He commended the local chief executives (LCEs) for their initiatives and support to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s directive.
“Sa hanay ng mga alkalde, ako’y nagpapasalamat. Dito n’yo makikita na ang mga local government units, talagang nagsasanib-puwersa lalo na’t higit sa Kalakhang Maynila dahil ito ay affected talaga,” he added.
He said some local execs even extended assistance to affected rice retailers through the provision of stalls for free or at discounted fees, just like in Mandaluyong City. “The LGU rose to the occasion. Gumawa sila ng ayuda on their own, even ‘yung mga libreng upa on their own. Ito ay nagpapakita na basta may krisis magtulungan lang ang bawat Pilipino, wala tayong magiging problems,”> the DILG chief emphasized.
Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/Abalos-visits-markets-on-Day-1-of-Rice-Price-Cap-Implementation-/NC-2023-1152