DTI to expedite financial aid to affected rice retailers

MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it will facilitate the immediate distribution of financial aid to retailers who will be affected by  Executive Order No. 39 which sets the price ceiling of regular-milled rice at P41 per kilogram and well-milled rice at P45.

DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, who is currently in Jakarta, Indonesia with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, said the assistance to rice retailers/wholesalers, including small supermarkets that will be affected by the price ceiling, will come in the forms of financial assistance, loan programs, logistics support, and market linkages support.

In a statement, Pascual said that through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a financial aid or compensation will be given to retailers/wholesalers in wet markets and neighborhood stores to cover the difference between the cost of the current inventory of rice and the price ceiling. The government will also provide transportation in delivering rice from traders to retailers to reduce logistical costs.

Further, market linkages will be established to link local farmers with supermarket chains and other retailers and promote bulk buying or advance purchase of supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and other commercial establishments.

With this, the DTI has convened a Special Task Force to conduct profiling and validation on the first day of the EO’s effectivity on Tuesday, Sept. 5, in San Juan City and Quezon City in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Local Government Units (LGUs), and the Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs). Likewise, DTI will mobilize associations to gather list of retailers and properly identify potential beneficiaries.

“There has been a notable level of compliance observed among the retailers monitored thus far,” Pascual said in a text message to reporters.

DTI Assistant Secretary Agaton Uvero, who represented DTI in the monitoring team said, “Currently, we are working with other government agencies to facilitate the profiling and validation of retailers, which shall be the basis for the distribution of financial aid by DSWD as early as next week. We are also set to conduct visits in warehouses in various locations to ensure that there is enough supply and discourage hoarding. As instructed by DTI Secretary Fred Pascual, the task force will ensure that consumers are protected and retailers will receive the assistance they need as the E.O. takes effect.” 

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos joined the monitoring team together with DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, and DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) Director Atty. Fhillip Sawali. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora also joined the team, which surveyed wet markets and supermarkets.  

A strong market visibility established through the presence of the inter-agency price monitoring team encourages rice retailers to support the implementation of EO 39. The team is also able to explain objectives of the EO, that the price cap is only a temporary measure to mitigate the rising prices of rice in the market. 

Abalos further said that the price of rice is likely to go down as harvesting season approaches and rice imports come.  

In response to concerns raised by retailers, Abalos assured the retailers that DTI has a financial program for them. All they have to do is to get them registered with the DTI. 

Abalos said that under the planned financial program for the affected retailers, “everyone will be taken care of.” 

The DILG also committed to enlisting the cooperation of mayors from Metro Manila and market masters/administrators in enforcing the mandatory price ceiling on rice. 

The DA also ensured close coordination with DTI in monitoring rice prices and enforcing the imposed price cap. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will help in stabilizing the supply of rice.  

Uvero explained that the first day of the effectivity of the price cap has been allotted to gather information among the affected retailers and their concerns. 

Apart from market visits and profiling, the special task force on the EO implementation is also set to visit warehouses in various locations to ensure adequate supply of rice and discourage hoarding among retailers and traders.  

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also assured the public that financial aid shall be given by the LGU to retailers on top of the assistance that will be given by the national government.  

In the coming days, the monitoring team will continue visiting wet markets and supermarkets on a day-to-day basis to ensure compliance with the price ceilings of regular- and well-milled rice. 

The DTI also assured the conduct of day-to-day joint monitoring activities with DA beginning on Sept. 5 to ensure that the price ceiling is being followed in various wet markets, supermarkets, and sundry stores. (MB)