Local chief executives, officials of the Philippine National Police, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will work hand-in-hand in implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order 39 imposing price ceiling on rice.

In a press conference at the MMDA headquarters, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. said they will "fill the gap" of personnel mandated to strictly monitor if rice retailers are following the President's order.

"While the DA (Department of Agriculture) and Department of Trade and Industry were tasked as the lead agencies to (carry out) order the price ceiling," the manpower of the two agencies is not enough to do the job, of maintaining the price of rice in local markets, especially in the metropolis, within P41 for regular milled rice and P45 for well-milled rice as provided in the EO.

Short of manpower

"DTI said they only have 30 personnel (for the task). Metro Manila is about 17 million (in population)," Abalos explained, stressing that LCEs should tap their market masters, with PNP officers and MMDA enforcers in carrying out the President's order.

An information drive, he said should also be intensified for everyone to follow.

He also warned public officials who would be found to be "conspiring with hoarders and price manipulators" would face administrative cases and permanent disqualification from holding positions in public service.