By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday morning the provincial government is willing to lend a hand to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in monitoring the price ceiling on rice.

Lacson said the DTI is the lead agency in monitoring rice prices, and that if they ask for assistance, the capitol is willing to assist them.

Lacson explained that under Executive Order (EO) 39, the price cap on rice will be imposed until it is lifted by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. upon the recommendation of the Price Coordinating Council, the DTI or the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“That is already an EO. It’s not only in the province. Even the national government would make sure of it’s compliance,” Lacson said.

He added that the current concern on the effects of the price ceiling will be the retailers, as they have already invested in the commodity’s high prices.

He pointed out how the affected dealers can be compensated.

“If indeed the national government could help the retailers, it would be good,” the governor said.

There are some pronouncements from members of the House of Representatives on how to help the retailers.

Lacson said he understood that the price ceiling is a short-term solution and this can still be resolved.

On August 31, Marcos, who is also the concurrent DA secretary, approved a recommendation to impose mandated price ceilings on rice amid the current surge in retail prices across the country.

Marcos set the price ceiling of P41 per kilogram for regular milled rice and P45 per kilogram for well-milled rice.

The order took effect on Tuesday, September 5./DGB, WDJ