Metro Manila Council President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, MMDA Chairman Don Artes, and Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban inspect rice prices at the Agora Market in San Juan City. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order No. 39, establishing mandated price ceilings for rice to curb price manipulation by traders and retailers.
MANILA, Philippines — San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora spearheaded an inspection and price monitoring operation at the Agora Market on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
The event marked the inaugural day of enforcing Executive Order No. 39, Series of 2023, promulgated by Malacañang. The executive order establishes a price cap for rice sold in the market.
READ: Bongbong Marcos orders price caps for rice at P41 to P45 per kilo
Joining Zamora were Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Don Artes, Usec. Domingo Panganiban, and Assistant Secretary Agaton Uvero of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The price inspection and monitoring objective was to ensure strict adherence to EO 39 by retailers. The measure aims to prevent price manipulation by traders and retailers, as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. directed to the DTI and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“Kami po ay binigyan ng direktiba na ipatupad ang E.O. 39 starting Sept. 5, ngayong araw. Kaya kinausap po natin ang ating market master at ating mga retailers upang siguraduhin na sa araw na ito ay tama po ang presyo ng bigas sa Agora Public Market. Kinausap po namin sila at sinabing ang pangulo ay may executive order tungkol dito at lahat naman po ay compliant, sinigurado po natin yan sapagkat naiintindihan po natin ang pangangailangan ng consumer na makabili ng bigas sa mababang presyo,” Zamora said.
(We have been directed to enforce E.O. 39 starting on September 5th today. We have engaged with our market master and retailers to ensure that the price of rice at the Agora Public Market is accurate on this day. We have informed them of the President’s executive order, and everyone is compliant. We have ensured this because we understand the consumer’s need to purchase rice at affordable prices.)
As per this mandate, regular-milled rice can be sold at a maximum price of P41.00 per kilogram, while well-milled rice can be priced up to P45.00 per kilogram. Violators may face charges under the following laws: RA No. 7581, also known as the “Price Act”; RA No. 10845, the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act”; and C.O. No. 32, Series of 2008, which is the “Ordinance Creating the Local Price Control Coordinating Council.”
Zamora emphasized that the city has established a Local Price Control Coordinating Council through an ordinance to ensure strict adherence to these price regulations. He explained, “This ordinance will ensure that all retailers in San Juan adhere to the prices. It is about rice and all products that violate the SRP or suggested retail price.”
For first-time offenders found violating City Ordinance No. 32, Series of 2008, a fine of P2,000 will be imposed. Second-time offenders will face a fine of P3,000.00, while third-time offenders will be fined P5,000.00 and may revoke their permits.
“Ako po ay nananawagan sa lahat po na sundin po natin ang presyo na nakasaad sa executive order ni Pres. Bongbong Marcos. At bilang mayor at presidente ng Metro Manila Council, we will coordinate with all the mayors in Metro Manila to ensure that the pricing of rice across the NCR is followed based on the executive order,” he stated.
(I appeal to everyone to adhere to the prices stipulated in President Bongbong Marcos’ executive order. As the mayor and president of the Metro Manila Council, we will coordinate with all the mayors in Metro Manila to ensure that rice pricing across the National Capital Region [NCR] conforms to the executive order,” Zamora affirmed.
The San Juan mayor also expressed the city’s willingness to provide financial assistance to affected rice retailers in San Juan during this period, in addition to the P15,000 subsidy proposed by the national government to help retailers mitigate potential income losses.
In his capacity as president of the Metro Manila Council, Zamora, alongside Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos, DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, DA Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, conducted a similar inspection of rice prices at Nepa Q-Mart in accordance with E.O. 39.