VENDORS at Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City have yet to adjust their rice prices in compliance with President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos' directive to implement rice price ceilings starting September 5, 2023.
Currently, the prices stand as follows: tonner rice at P53 to P55/ kilogram (kg), special rice at P50 to P53/kg, Jasmine rice at P53 to P55/kg, well-milled rice at P50 to P52/kg, regular milled rice at P49 to P55/kg, and Kohaku at P55 to P61/kg.
According to vendors and retailers interviewed by SunStar Davao, they plan to sell their existing rice stocks before introducing the expected cheaper rice, which they say they haven't received yet. They are waiting for the arrival of 'cheaper rice stocks' before pricing their regular-milled rice at P41/kg and well-milled rice at P45/kg.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 39, also known as the Imposition of Mandated Price Ceilings on Rice, on September 3, 2023, establishing price ceilings on regular and well-milled rice nationwide.
One vendor, "James" (last name withheld), testified that he observed hesitant buyers complaining about the almost daily increase in rice prices. He also mentioned that they have been experiencing a rice supply shortage since July.
“Kay kung ang mga namalit dinhi’g bugas naga-suffer kay namalit og kinilo lang, unsa na lang kaha ming namaligya og bugas? Dili namo mabawi among kapital, wala na pod mi kabalo pila na lang among mabaligya,” the vendor said.
(For customers buying in small quantities, if they complain, imagine the plight of rice sellers like us. We cannot recover our capital, and we are uncertain about how much rice we can sell.)
“If mosugot sila, magbarato mi diha diha dayon, tapos sunod adlaw wala na’y mamaligya kay nagalugi,” he added.
(If customers agree, we could lower prices right away, but the next day, there might be no more rice vendors due to losses.)
On the other hand, another rice vendor, Johnny Duran, said they cannot readily adjust prices without access to cheaper rice stocks. They will conform to the mandated costs once they receive such supplies.
“Basta naa’y maabot nga bugas na barato, pwede kaayo mi mosunod, pero sa karon wala pa man, so mao pa jud na ang presyo,” Duran said.
(We're willing to adjust our prices as soon as affordable rice becomes available, but for now, since it's still not in stock, we'll have to maintain our current prices.)
Implementing measures
Determined to enforce the order and prevent hoarding and profiteering, Marcos has tasked the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with jointly monitoring rice prices. For this purpose, they will visit wet markets, supermarkets, warehouses and storage locations.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will assist individuals reporting vendors not adhering to the rice price ceilings.
“Kung naa’y nagsumbong, ipa-blotter sa police station and then we’ll report to the DA and to the DTI… [We'll serve as a] support… sa DA and DTI to ensure nga mituman ang mga negosyante og bugas sa price ceiling," DCPO spokesperson Police Captain Hazel Tuazon said via text message to SunStar Davao on September 5.
(If anyone reports a violation, they should file a complaint at the police station, and we will subsequently inform the DA)and DTI. We are here to support the DA and DTI in ensuring that rice businesses comply with the price ceiling.)