Marcos to retailers affected by rice price ceiling: We have plans for you

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed that the government had a plan for rice retailers who would be adversely affected by the price ceiling on the commodity.

Before leaving for Jakarta, Indonesia to participate in the 43rd ASEAN Summit, Marcos presided over a meeting with several government agencies at the State Dining Room in Malacañang Palace.

In his departure speech, Marcos stressed that the government understood the concerns of the rice retailers as he promised that aid would be available so they would not lose profits.

"Naunawaan namin kaagad, mula sa simula ng usapan tungkol sa price control sa bigas, naunawaan na namin at nakita na kaagad na mayroong mga retailer na maiipit dahil sila ay bumili ng mahal ng bigas," Marcos said.

(We understood, from the beginning of our talks on the price control of rice, we saw that some retailers would be affected.)

"Ngayon ay mapipilitan sila maipagbili 'yung mahal na bigas sa murang halaga, kaya't alam namin 'yun. Kaya gumawa kami, meron kaming plano," he added.

(They will be forced to sell the rice at a cheaper price. That's why we have a plan for this.)

During the meeting, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Dominic Tolentino Jr. tackled the various concerns raised by the retailers, traders and farmers cooperatives, as well as the assistance they were seeking from the government.

Among the proposed measures to alleviate the effects on retailers was financial assistance in wet markets and neighborhood sundry stores to cover the difference between the cost of the current inventory of rice and the price ceiling; some loan programs; and logistics support like providing government transportation for transferring sacks of rice from traders to retailers or wholesalers.

They also discussed market linkages and support, such as linking local rice farmers with supermarket chains and other retailers, finding alternative markets, and the Kadiwa-Diskwento Caravan.

The Presidential Communications Office also said that Marcos tasked the DTI to facilitate the aid distribution.

In line with this, DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual ordered the creation of a Special Task Force that would ensure the efficient implementation of the EO.

“Sa mga kasamahan ko sa DTI na naka-assign sa rice task force, sama-sama nating gampanan ang ating tungkulin nang maayos at mahusay," Pascual said in a message.

The members of the Special Task Force agreed to start the profiling and validation in coordination with the DA, local government units, and the Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs).

Likewise, the DTI would mobilize associations to gather a list of retailers and properly identify potential beneficiaries.

In his speech, Marcos also mentioned that the Department of Agriculture and the DA were preparing a list of rice retailers who would be given assistance.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian also presented the proposed livelihood assistance or the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) for small-scale rice retailers, and the proposed social safety net for affected rice retailers.

He said Marcos had instructed them to utilize their sustainable livelihood program to assist rice traders and retailers under the “capital build-up” mandate of the program.

“Napag-usapan namin ng Pangulo kaninang umaga na gagamitin ulit ‘yung sustainable livelihood program ng DSWD para naman magtulungan ‘yung ating mga maliliit na mga retailers na naapektuhan nitong pansamantala na Executive Order o ‘yung price cap sa bigas,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian also said only the small rice traders and retailers, or the vulnerable groups, would receive the government’s aid.

Marcos' Executive Order No. 39 mandated a price cap of P41 per kilo for regular-milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice. The cap would take effect on September 5, Tuesday.

The EO indicates that the mandated price ceilings shall remain in full force and in effect unless lifted by the President upon the recommendation of the Price Coordinating Council or the DA and DTI.

The DTI earlier asked rice retailers to “sacrifice” profits for the meantime amid the skyrocketing prices of the commodity. — DVM, GMA Integrated News