By CESAR JOLITO III and MERLINDA A. PEDROSA
Several rice retailers at Libertad Public Market in Bacolod City were found non-compliant with the government-mandated P50-per-kilogram price ceiling on imported premium rice during a recent inspection conducted by the Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR).
DA-NIR Regional Executive Director Jose Albert Barrogo said the inspection, carried out on Monday, June 1, aimed to assess retailers’ compliance with Executive Order No. 118 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which imposed a temporary price cap on imported premium rice.
Barrogo said inspectors discovered that some vendors were still selling imported premium rice above the prescribed ceiling.
The agency immediately called the attention of the concerned retailers, although some traders presented delivery receipts and other documents to explain why their prices had yet to be adjusted.
The DA-NIR chief said the agency would conduct another round of inspections next week to ensure compliance with the order.
He warned that retailers found violating the price cap during the follow-up inspection could face notices of non-compliance and possible administrative action.
Executive Order No. 118, which took effect in May, sets the maximum retail price of imported premium rice at P50 per kilogram as part of the government’s efforts to make rice more affordable for consumers. The order remains effective until June 13.
The DA-NIR urged rice retailers to strictly adhere to the price ceiling and reminded consumers to report any suspected violations to authorities.
Probe
Bacolod City Administrator Mark Mayo has ordered Cherry Aujero, acting market supervisor, to conduct an investigation on the alleged rice retailers at Libertad Public Market not complying with the P50 per kilo price ceiling for imported premium rice.
Mayo said he wanted Aujero to submit an incident report detailing appropriate actions and measures undertaken by her office on the price cap.
Moreover, Mayo said the city has already deployed its price monitoring team to three major public markets.
He said they are also coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry to take appropriate action against the violators, adding that the inspection also covers the sale of school supplies./CCJ, MAP, WDJ