The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) seeks the help of local government units (LGUs) and the National Food Authority (NFA) to ensure that merchants comply with Executive Order (EO) No. 39, which set a price cap on regular and well-milled rice.
Under EO 39, the price of well-milled rice should not go above Php 45 per kilogram, while the cost of regular-milled rice should not exceed Php 41 per kilogram.
DTI Asec. Agaton Uvero believes that the agency, with the help of Department of Agriculture (DA), could monitor the compliance of rice retailers in the National Capital Region.
Uvero mentioned that DTI already has a unit that monitors the prices of prime commodities and basic necessities within Metro Manila
"Siguro idagdag lang natin dito yung bigas at kasama natin yung DA sa pag-monitor," Uvero said on Wednesday, September 6, during DILG sa DZRH Breaktime.
However, Uvero worries that, due to the devolution of government functions, DA lacks the capability to enforce EO 39 outside of Metro Manila.
"Meron naman tayong offices sa provincial level. Ang medyo may kakulangan ng kaunti ay yung sa DA kasi na-devolve na yung functions nila sa provincial level," the DTI official explained.
"Humihingi tayo ng tulong. Katuwang natin yung mga LGU, at yung NFA para sa monitoring nationwide," he added.
Uvero said that DTI also seeks the help from the Department of Interior and Local Government to ensure that correct information, and assistance will reach those affected by the price caps in the provinces.
DA and DTI recommended the imposition of a price cap in order to combat the increasing cost of rice in the Philippines.
Uvero assured that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will lift the price cap once the cost of rice stabilizes in the upcoming weeks.
"Itong EO na ito ay temporary lang ito kasi nakikita natin, in three to four weeks, maguumpisa na yung harvest season, kusang bababa na yung presyo ng bigas," Uvero said.
