The Federation of Free Farmers confirmed that the farmgate price of paddy in the country had dropped to P3 per kilo, a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order 39, or the order that sets the price ceiling on rice.

According to Raul Montemayor, the leader of FFF, the buying price of dry palay hit P20 per kilo from the previous P23 per kilo price, while wet palay has turned P16 from its original price of 17 pesos.

However, after the announcement of EO 39, the farmgate price of rice suddenly dropped by P3 per kilo, making retailers feel frustrated as they were also affected by the said executive order.

In an interview with Regi Espiritu and Elaine Apit on DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan, Montemayor said that the price is too low and that the retailers could no longer give lower prices to the consumers.

"Yun ang problema, masyadong mababa siya. Nabili na ng mga retailer yung stocks nila sa mahal na presyo. Mahirap naman silang kausapin na ibenta ng palugi," he said.

"Pero para sa amin, ang dapat nilang ginawa ay pinantay nila ang ceiling price sa lebel na may kaunting tutubuin pa ang retailer, pero hindi na tataas pa doon yung presyo," he continued.

Montemayor went on to say that other retailers may be complying, but they will still display regular milled rice instead of the well-milled one.

"Ang problema, imbes na wag tumaas yung presyo ng bigas, setting a more realistic ceiling price, baka mawala pa ang bigas sa palengke," he discussed.

Meanwhile, the government offers to provide subsidies to the retailers who are affected by the price cap.