QC gov’t eyes discounts, waiving rental fees for rice retailers battered by price cap
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government is looking into waiving the rental fees or giving discounts to rice retailers affected by the price cap.
“The city government may waive rental fees or provide discounts to rice dealers, wholesalers, and retailers in the city to help alleviate any challenges they may face due to these price adjustments,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement on Tuesday.
Belmonte made the offer in light of reports that some rice retailers in market stalls temporarily closed due to the measure.
“Nabalitaan natin na may ibang market stalls at tindahan na pansamantalang nagsara dahil hindi kinaya ang price cap sa bigas,” Belmonte said.
(We’ve heard that some market stalls and stores decided to close because they could not bear the price cap on rice.)
“Kaya naman gagawa tayo ng paraan na sila ay matulungan dahil kapag sila naman ang tumigil, apektado pati ang pamilya ng kanilang mga manggagawa na halos lahat naman ay taga-QC,” she added.
(So we will make a way to help them because once they close, all of their workers will be affected, most of whom are from QC.)
Belmonte, together with Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and other government officials conducted an inspection of the prices of rice at Mega Q Mart on Tuesday.
Upon inspection, the local chief executive said that she is not inclined to punish rice retailers, noting the importance of dialogue.
“Hindi natin isinusulong ang pagpataw ng parusa sa mga rice retailers. Alam naman natin ang kalagayan nila, hindi naman sila masasamang tao,” Belmonte said.
(We are not calling for the punishment of rice retailers. We know their situation, they are not bad people.)
“Ang ating layunin, makipagdayalogo sa kanila para makahanap tayo ng win-win solution para sa mga nagtitinda at sa mga mamimili,” she added.
(Our objective is to have a dialogue to find a win-win solution for sellers and consumers.)
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. made the Executive Order No. 39, mandating the price ceiling which already took effect since Tuesday.
The EO stipulates that well-milled rice must be sold at a maximum price of ₱45 and regular-milled rice at ₱41.
Marcos made the order in view of the soaring price of rice, which now reached up to P56 a kilo, according to reports.
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