When enough is not enough

In the national media, hoarders are accused of manipulating prices of essential commodities, particularly rice.

In response to the perceived manipulation, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 39, setting a price cap on regular and well-milled rice at P41 and P45 per kilogram, respectively.

Despite the outcry and the administration's response, beyond a handful of anecdotes, there needs to be solid data identifying manipulation opportunities for hoarders and finding evidence consistent with price manipulation.

The President's EO was probably a feeble attempt to stop the seemingly unstoppable price increase of the commodity.

But it could also mean Marcos Jr. wanted the problem nipped in the bud. The EO is the first concrete step in eliminating the cartels and hoarders and allowing rice prices to be determined by the law of supply and demand.

Marcos means business. Consolidating the agencies' powers, he issued Executive Order 39, not as another warning, but as his weapon against hoarders and rice cartels.

The President had clarified that he would go after rice hoarders and cartels during his second State of the Nation Address. He parroted the same warning, again and again until he issued this EO as a sort of declaration of war against them.

Enough is enough — napuno na ang salop. The government must come in and control the runaway prices of rice. Even though the government allowed rice importation, notwithstanding the harvest to stabilize the price, officials noted the prices continue to increase.

Trade Assistant Secretary Agaton Uvero explained that rice prices should not increase because of the liberalized rice importation. Uvero pointed the accusing finger to the cartels and hoarders trying to control the flow of the market.

Firm on WPS

The President also showed his tenacity and was true to his word, "the Philippines will not lose an inch" of its territory when dealing with bullies in the West Philippine Sea.

China has become more aggressive in its maritime claims that its actions almost went overboard when its naval assets fired water cannons at our navy ship, trying to resupply a contingent of troops in Ayungin Shoal.

Then China released a new version of their maritime claim — from a nine-dash line to a ten-dash line — claiming more of the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.

Our government is now asking what could be next, an 11-dash line and so on and on.

And what about the President? How does he deal with the bully? Instead of ignoring the bully, Marcos said he would not change the approach, meaning we will continue defending what is ours and will not cede an inch of our territory.

The President said the government stayed true to the rules of international law, particularly the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea that put the country on solid ground regarding its assertions for territorial sovereignty and maritime territory.