AN INDUSTRY group has started selling well-milled rice at P38 per kilo in Pasig City on Monday, July 10.
The P38 per kilo rice was available in more retailers starting yesterday, including select areas in Quezon City, Las Piñas City, the cities of Lipa and Tanauan in Batangas, and Dumaguete, Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders’ Movement (PRISM) convener Rowena Sadicon said.
The group said its advocacy is to bring affordable options to consumers. Stakeholders such as traders and millers are subsidizing costs for logistics, rent and mark up value for retailers.
“Individual company ang nagsa-subsidize. ‘Yong logistics, ipinasasabay lang namin sa regular delivery para hindi naman pumatong pa,” Sadicon said.
She added: “We just want na kahit papaano matulungan natin ang mga less fortunate na mga kababayan na hindi talaga kayang magdagdag pa sa budget nila.”
Retailers like Rose Eresmas are seeing a decline in sales as retail prices continue to go up.
“Naghahanap sila ng mas mababa pa sa 39 pesos… May regular customer kami alam naman namin na hikahos sila. Kasi minsan bumibili sila ng 500 grams lang,” Erasmas said.
A limit of five kilos per customer will be implemented to avoid hoarding. The group is also monitoring retail sales to ensure that supplies will be sold for the prescribed price.
The group is calling for more stakeholders to join its advocacy. (ABS-CBN News)
