GOV’T TO IMPOSE P50/KILO PRICE CAP ON IMPORTED RICE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he will issue an executive order to impose a P50 price cap on every kilo of imported well-milled rice.

“Ilalabas natin ang Executive Order para maipatupad na ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” President Marcos said in a presidential address following the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Committee meeting on Monday.

“Pinalalawak din ang P20 rice program. May 627 na center sa buong bansa. Ito’y naging mas malawak dahil dati ang aming pino-provide sa P20 rice ay 600 tons, at ngayon umakyat na sa 2,000 tons dahil tumaas ang demand,” the President added.

The move was based on the recommendation of the National Price Coordinating Council, a government body responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and stabilizing the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities.

The President said that currently, the price of basic necessities and prime commodities remains at the suggested retail price levels, including rice.

The government, he said, is working to control the prices of 205 commodities in the midst of the current energy emergency.

“Patuloy tayong nakikipag-usap sa manufacturer at retailer na hindi sila magtaas muna ng presyo hanggang sa susunod na buwan,” the President noted.

President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 110, declaring a state of national energy emergency in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, authorizing him to declare a critically low energy supply or imminent danger, and to implement the fuel and energy allocation plan and other energy conservation measures.

The EO also adopts the UPLIFT as the government’s coordinated, whole-of-government response framework.