ILOILO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expressed satisfaction over the high compliance rate with the rice price ceiling among retailers in Western Visayas.
“As of Sept. 25, our compliance rate is 75 percent for well-milled rice prices, and for regular milled rice, it’s about 65 to 68 percent,” DA Region 6 Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (DA-AMAD) chief Maria Teresa Solis said during the induction of Iloilo Grains Businessmen Association (IGBA) officers yesterday.
Since Executive Order (EO) No. 39 took effect on Sept. 5, DA-6 began monitoring the La Paz Public Market, Iloilo Central Market, Iloilo Terminal Market, and sari-sari stores in the region.
Meanwhile, concerned local government units (LGUs) monitored public markets in component cities and municipalities, with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) overseeing supermarkets and other establishments.
Why not 100 percent?
Solis explained that some retailers have stocks that they had purchased at higher prices.
“The reason is that their purchase was expensive, and rice goes through several channels before reaching the public market, especially for our retailers,” she said.
However, Solis believes that in the upcoming days, rice prices will drop as the peak harvest season begins and supply is expected to increase.
Sanctions for non-compliance
The regional office is awaiting guidelines from the DA central office. For now, DA-6 has compiled a list of non-compliant rice retailers.
“We don’t have a directive yet from the central office about what actions to take against them, but we have listed their names. We have a directory, and we’re being assisted by the mayors and their staff in monitoring and listing the retailers in their public markets,” shared Solis.
She also mentioned that the number of rice retailers complying with EO No. 39 has been rising due to the joint efforts of the DA, DTI, LGUs, and the IGBA, led by its newly-elected president, Ildefonso Dolorfino.
“Because the DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development] provided a one-time P15,000 assistance to retailers, many more are now complying,” Solis added.
On Sept. 21, DSWD-6 released an additional P14,505,000 fund for 976 micro rice retailers in the region affected by the price cap.
“I deeply thank those who are adhering to the price cap… Please bear with it for a few more days. Soon, you’ll be able to buy from your suppliers at a lower price since it’s harvest time,” said Solis./PN
