Rice traders ready to work with gov't in implementing rice price ceiling

A group of rice traders has expressed readiness to cooperate with the government in implementing the executive order imposing caps on retail prices of rice, the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) said Saturday.

In a news release issued by the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) through the PCO, PRISM lead convenor Rowena Sadicon said the group will be working with the government to provide the consumers with affordable and quality rice.

This, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the the joint recommendation of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade of Industry (DTI) to set price ceilings on rice in the country, according to Executive Order No. 39, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

The mandated price ceiling for regular milled rice is P41 per kilo while the mandated price cap for well-milled rice is P45 per kilo, according to the EO.

Marcos' approval of the price ceiling stemmed from the surge in retail prices of rice in local markets. Current prices of rice per kilo range from P45 to P70.

The EO will take effect on Tuesday, September 5. 

While some industry stakeholders are not receptive of the EO at first, Sadicon said they know that it is the President’s prerogative to issue such a directive, as she hopes PRISM members will understand the position of the chief executive.

Advocacy groups have expressed concern that the retail price ceiling on rice could could result in lower farmgate prices of the commodity, which could be detrimental to the livelihoods of farmers. 

“Sa kabila po nito ay patuloy pa rin po kaming nakikiusap, at nakikipag-usap rather, at in partnership with the President and the government, together with the DA, at ang ating pamahalaan. Ang gusto po natin ay magkaroon ng maayos na bigas sa ating pamilihan, na mabigyan po natin ng tamang presyo, na kung ano po ‘yung hinihiling sa atin,” said Sadicon.

“Maaari pong hindi maintindihan ng lahat sa simula pero eventually po sa sama-samang pagtutulong ng ating mga kasamahan sa industriya ng bigas ay mapapagtagumpayan din po lahat ito at maihahain po natin sa ating mga consumers ang ating murang bigas, na ito po ang layunin ng ating Pangulo,” said the PRISM convenor.

Sadicon also said she hopes for normalcy in the coming days particularly with the start of the palay harvest season, which will stabilize rice prices in the country.

The PCO said Marcos approved the recommendation to impose mandated price ceilings on rice in the whole country on Thursday to ensure reasonably priced and conveniently accessible staple food to Filipinos amid the alarming increase in its retail prices in the market.

The recommendation of the DA and the DTI to impose price ceilings on rice stemmed from the current surge in retail prices of rice in the country, which resulted in a considerable economic strain on Filipinos, particularly the underprivileged and marginalized, according to the Palace. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA Integrated News