Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte assured that the rice retailers affected by the price ceiling in the city will be receiving assistance from the local government.
"May instruction sa aming mga Metro Manila Mayors is to try our best to find ways para maibsan ang epekto sa ating mga rice retailers. So binanggit ni DILG na magbigay ng diskuwento o pag-waive ng rent at handa po ang lungsod Quezon na gawin lahat ito," Belmonte said during her visit in Quezon City markets on Tuesday.
"Bukod diyan, mayroon din po tayong ayuda dahil mayroon talaga kaming budget para sa mga crisis situation para sa mga negosyo, we will activate that and we will give assistance na karagdagan pa sa ibinibigay ng national government," she added.
During the visit, Belmonte was accompanied by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Agaton Uvero, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes, and MMC Head Francis Zamora, and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora.
According to Abalos, retailers should not be afraid if the order is not followed immediately because an information drive will be held and no one will be charged on the first day of the implementation of the EO.
He also encouraged retailers to open, as the DTI is starting to gather a list of retailers affected by the EO, and they will be given government assistance along with the government's continuous operation against exploitative traders.
The implementation of Executive Order No. 39 signed by President Ferdinand 'Bobong' Marcos Jr., which sets a price ceiling of P41 per kilo of regular-milled rice and P45 for well-milled rice in the country, started on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, many buyers were happy with the price of P45 per kilo of well-milled rice at Nepa Q Mart.
Renato Abauag, admin of Nepa Q Mart, said they were the first to put some area in the market opening where retailers could sell cheap rice in compliance with EO 39.
The maximum that a buyer can buy in Nepa Q Mart is limited to five kilos, or up to P225 worth.
