Bulacan rice millers have committed to providing 30,000 sacks at affordable prices under the "Rice on Wheels for Retailers' Program" of the Department of Trade and Industry.

The DTI, in a statement, said the rice caravan will continue as part of government efforts in implementing Executive Order 39, putting a P41 per kilo price cap on regular rice and P45/kilo for well-milled rice.

The kick-off of the program was held last Friday in Quezon City, Parañaque City, Manila City and Makati City, followed by another caravan on 9 September 2023 in Bicutan, Parañaque City and Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

On Monday, a caravan was held in Pasig City, Caloocan City, Quezon City, Muntinlupa City, Paranaque City and Marikina City.

Since its kick-off, the Rice on Wheels for Retailers Program has sold a total of 1,371 sacks of well-milled rice.

Meanwhile, Antonio Tiu, president and CEO of Agrinurture, said there is a need to revisit the Rice Tariffication Law, particularly the provision restricting the National Food Authority from importing rice from other countries.

"For example, you're not supposed to restrict NFA from importing rice because NFA is supposed to be the agency in charge of food security, particularly rice buffer inventory. So, restricting NFA's ability to import leaves the responsibility to provide enough supply to the local market to the private sector. But the private sector will only step in when there is a profit to be made," Tiu said.