NCR LGUs support rice price cap, vow assistance to affected retailers

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Tuesday supported the implementation of the price cap on rice and vowed to give assistance to affected retailers.

Based on the MMDA Resolution No. 23-12, the MMC “fully supports the issuance and implementation of Executive Order No. 39, entitled ‘Imposition of Mandated Price Ceiling on Rice’.”

MMC head San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said that aside from the P15,000 aid from the national government, affected retailers received an additional P5,000 from the local government.

“Ito po ay dinagdagan natin ng P5,000 mula sa local government. Kinausap na po natin ang private management ng palengke at binigyan po ang ating rice retailer ng isang buwang libreng renta para sa September,” he said.

(The local government provided an additional P5,000 in cash assistance. We also talked to the private management of a market, and it waived the rent for the affected retailers for September.)

Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano said she relayed to the rice retailers the assistance that will be given by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval said the local government continues to look for other ways to assist rice retailers.

EO 39, which took effect on September 5, provides that the price ceiling for regular milled rice is P41 per kilo and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.

Marcos’ approval of the price ceiling stemmed from the surge in retail prices of rice in local markets, which ranged from P45 to P70 per kilo.

According to Marcos, the mandatory price ceiling on rice would only be temporary. — VBL, GMA Integrated News