President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Monday said he directed concerned government agencies to facilitate the immediate distribution of financial assistance for retailers or wholesalers in wet markets and stores who will be affected by the imposed rice price ceiling.
In his departure statement before flying to Jakarta, Indonesia to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, Marcos said they had foreseen that many retailers would be impacted by the executive order (EO) No. 39 mandating the ₱41 per kilo price on regular milled rice and ₱45 per kilo on well-milled rice.
"Nakita agad na mayroong mga retailers na maiipit dahil sila ay bumili ng mahal na bigas, ngayon ay mapipilitan sila maipagbili 'yung mahal na bigas sa murang halaga," he said.
Marcos said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture (DA) are now listing the rice retailers associations across the country.
"At habang ginagawa 'yan, kinakalkula rin kung ano ang magiging lugi noong mga rice retailers dahil nga sa price cap," he added.
Once the list is finished, the President said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be leading the distribution of the financial aid.
Marcos asked the affected retailers to not worry, and said the loss in their profit would be compensated soon.
The Chief Executive assured that the imposed rice price ceiling is only temporary and this may lifted eventually.
"Hindi tatagal. Umaani na tayo ng palay dito sa Pilipinas, tapos na ang season. At kapag dating ng panahon, papasok pa ang mga i-import, sabay-sabay na papasok iyan at dadalhin natin sa palengke. Pabayaan ulit natin ang presyo ng bigas na maghanap ng sarili niyang presyo," he said.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has clarified that the imposed price cap only covers regular and well-milled rice.
It said that price of premium and special rice varieties such as Sinandomeng, Dinorado, Thai Jasmine, Japonica, glutinous, Indian, and Pakistani Basmati are not affected.
