President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has lifted the price ceiling for regular and well-milled rice.
“I think it’s the appropriate time since namimigay tayo ng mga bigas. Yes, we are, as of today, we are lifting the price caps on rice, both for the regular milled rice and for the well-milled rice,” President Marcos said.
“So, tinatanggal na natin ‘yung mga control pero hindi ibig sabihin basta’t ganun na lang dahil kailangan pa rin natin ayusin ang agricultural sector. Kailangan pa rin natin tulungan ang mga pinakamahirap, pinakagutom para kahit papaano makaahon sila.” he added.
The Chief Executive reached the decision to cease the implementation of Executive Order No. 39 which he signed last September 5 to cushion the effects of continued increase in the price of rice products.
*The decreasing rice prices in the domestic market, increasing supply of rice and favorable external factors such as decreasing prices of rice in the global market were among the indicators that warranted the lifting of the price cap,” Marcos assured.
Nonetheless, the President vowed to continue providing assistance to rice farmers and other sectors affected by the spiraling cost of basic commodities, including the distribution of P15,000 cash assistance to micro rice retailers.
On the production side, Marcos said the government will continue to support the agriculture sector and strengthen the country’s value chain “because we are still talking about production.”
“Ang Rice Tariffication Law, mayroong naka-mandate doon na P10 billion every year for the RCEF. Hindi RCEP, ‘yung RCEF (Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund), ‘yung namimigay ng mga gamit, mga tractor, mga dryer, mga harvester, et cetera. Ang ginawa natin para matulungan pa ‘yung ating mga farmer, ‘yung lampas doon sa P10 billion nangongolekta ang rice tariffication,” he said.
“So, the RCEF from only the expenditure of 10 billion, it will now be 22 billion in that regard para bumilis nga talaga ang pagtulong sa ating mga farmer,” he emphasized.