VALENZUELA Mayor Wes Gatchalian has taken the lead in implementing the Malacañang-issued Executive Order No. 39 or the Imposition of Mandated Price Ceilings on Rice to all public and private markets and supermarkets in the city.
Effective September 5, the price ceiling set for regular milled rice is P41 per kilo while P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.
This shall remain in full force and effect unless lifted by the President upon the recommendation of the concerned government agencies and the Price Coordinating Council.
The mayor first convened with concerned local agencies to gain general knowledge on the EO and be familiarized with the violations to be imposed on the retailers and market
owners who will disobey the price ceiling.
Then he met with rice business owners and retailers to orient them with the newly- signed EO and to listen to their sentiments and address all their concerns about the national policy including the violation imposition.
They were told that notice of violation can be issued on vendors who wouldn’t follow the mandated price for the rice varieties as well as mislabeled and no labelling of rice.
They would have 48 hours to submit an affidavit of explanation including the necessary documents for investigation.
The national government has promised to provide assistance to the qualified small rice traders and retailers through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program.
To ensure strict and full implementation of EO39, the mayor formed a taskforce that would check on the price ceiling in full support and cooperation to the national directives that aims to protect the small-time traders and retailers as well as the
consumers from widespread practice of alleged illegal price manipulation and hoarding.
The city officials then conducted a surprise inspection in several markets on its first day.
This inspection will run throughout the week and coming weeks for strict monitoring and enforcing EO 39, according to the mayor.
Being the former chairman of the Committee on Trade and Industry when he was a lawmaker, the city chief executive ensures a smooth implementation of the national
policy to protect the interest of both the vendors and consumers.
