Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. on Saturday gathered the local chief executives, officials of the Philippine National Police, and Metro Manila Development Authority to work hand-in-hand in implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order No. 39 imposing a price ceiling on rice.
In a press conference at the MMDA headquarters, Abalos 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, that the EO dictates it must be sold at P41 for regular milled rice and P45 for well-milled rice.
"DTI said they only have 30 personnel (for the task). Metro Manila is about 17 million," 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.
"Matulungan tayo rito. Because of the widespread practice of price manipulation and hoarding. Nagalit na ang Presidente kaya gumawa ng mandatory price ceiling," Abalos said.
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.
EO 39 was issued following the joint recommendations of the DA and DTI to President Marcos Jr. who signed the order on Friday, August 31.
The need to implement the initiative arises from the unreasonable increase in the retail prices of rice despite the sufficient supply owing to the recent arrival of rice imports as well as the expected surplus of locally produced rice.
Fraudulent activities in the rice industry including illegal importation and price manipulation are laid out to be the main contributing factors affecting not only the cost of the commodity but also the steady access of people to rice as a basic necessity aside from the oil price fluctuations in the global market.
According to Republic Act No. 7581, the President, upon the recommendation of the implementing agency, or the Price Coordinating Council, may impose a price ceiling on any basic necessity or prime commodity in compliance with the conditions set by the law.
RA 7581, or the Price Act was enacted in 1992, allowing the state to provide effective and sufficient protection to consumers against hoarding, profiteering, and cartels.