MANILA, Philippines- Mahigpit na imo-monitor ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ang retail prices ng bigas sa gitna ng price ceilings para sa mga pangunahing pagkain sa buong bansa.
“We acknowledge the need to take immediate action on the rising prices of rice in the market. Relatedly, imposing strict monitoring of its price and supply to prevent the possibility of hoarding and overpricing among traders and retailers is of equal importance,” ayon kay Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual sa isang kalatas.
“Pursuant to this, DTI will regularly conduct strict monitoring of prices of rice nationwide and ensure that the price ceiling set by the Department and DA (Department of Agriculture) will be followed,” dagdag na pahayag ng Kalihim.
Nauna rito, inaprubahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang joint recommendation ng DA at DTI na magtakda ng price ceilings sa bigas sa bansa ayon sa Executive Order No. 39, nilagdaan ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
“The mandated price ceiling for regular milled rice is P41 per kilo while the mandated price cap for well-milled rice is P45 per kilo,” ayon sa EO.
“These prices were computed based on the average rice prices for the last three months (May, June, July) following Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act for the setting of price ceiling,” pahayag ni Pascual.
Sa Palawan, nanawagan ang Pangulo sa publiko na isumbong o i-report sa mga awtoridad ang mga vendors at retailers na hindi sumusunod sa mandated price ceiling sa bigas.
“I would encourage anyone who finds that someone or retailer is selling at above the price ceiling, i-report po ninyo. I-report po ninyo sa pulis, i-report po ninyo sa DA (Department of Agriculture) doon sa lugar ninyo, i-report ninyo sa local government para matingnan po namin,” ayon sa Pangulo.
Sa kabilang dako, sinabi ni Pascual na ang price ceilings ay ekslusibong ipinapataw sa “regular- at well-milled rice” dahil ang mga ito ang “commonly consumed by the public.”
Ang pag-apruba ni Pangulong Marcos sa price ceiling ay nag-ugat sa surge sa retail prices ng bigas sa lokal na pamilihan.
Ang kasalukuyang presyo ng bigas per kilo ay P45 hanggang P70.
“We are also coordinating with the local government units (LGUs) to activate their Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) in support of this endeavor,” wika ni Pascual.
Sa kabilang dako, nanawagan naman si Pascual sa mga consumers na i-report ang anumang kaso ng overpricing o hoarding sa DTI sa pamamagitan ng kanilang One-DTI (1-384) hotline o mag- email sa [email protected].
“The imposition of this price ceiling is aimed at protecting Filipino consumers from unjust or unfair sales practices,” ani Pascual.
“We at the DTI and the entire Philippine government aim to protect lower-income individuals and the vulnerable population who often bear a disproportionate burden when prices of goods rapidly rise,” aniya pa rin.
Gayunman, sinabi ni Pascual na ang special at premium rice ay hindi dapat na “subjected to price ceiling.”
“Further, price ceiling for imported rice shall be based on the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) reference price. This is likewise close to the three-month average price of well-milled rice,” anito. Kris Jose
