By CESAR JOLITO III

The Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) reported that compliance with the P50 per kilogram price ceiling for five percent broken imported premium rice continues to improve across major public markets in Bacolod City.

The follow-up inspection, conducted through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, covered the Central, Burgos and Libertad Public Markets in line with Executive Order No. 118.

DA-NIR Regional Director Engineer Jose Albert Barrogo, together with personnel from Bacolod Police Station 1 and Police Station 4, led the monitoring team to ensure orderly implementation and market compliance.

Aside from rice, the team also checked the prices of other basic commodities such as chicken meat and eggs.

Barrogo said that compliance has improved as some rice retailers have already replaced old stocks with newly priced inventory that follows the P50 price ceiling.

However, he noted that other sellers who have yet to dispose of old stock remain temporarily non-compliant, though they are expected to comply once inventory turnover is completed.

He added that in Libertad Public Market, several retailers have already adjusted their prices and are now compliant with the government mandate.

Meanwhile, Barrogo said that the possible extension of the price ceiling is still under discussion.

He confirmed that a meeting will be held to review monitoring reports, which will serve as the basis for deciding whether the price cap will be extended or lifted.

During the inspection, DA-NIR noted continued availability of imported rice brands across the monitored markets.

The DA-NIR reiterated that the ongoing monitoring efforts, in coordination with other government agencies and market authorities, aim to ensure fair pricing, stabilize supply and protect consumers while maintaining access to affordable and quality rice and other essential goods./CCJ, WDJ