TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL – Some rice retailers in Tagbilaran City have not implemented the price ceiling imposed by President Bongbong Marcos (PBBM) on regular and well-milled rice, citing old stocks and high costs from suppliers.
Executive Order No. 39, issued by PBBM last week, sets the maximum retail prices of regular milled rice at P41 per kilogram and well-milled rice at P45 per kilogram.
The executive order also authorizes the police to arrest and prosecute violators.
However, a visit to the City Central Public Market revealed that not all rice retailers are complying with the order.
Jorge, a retailer who sells only local rice varieties, said he will not lower his prices until he receives new stocks from his suppliers.
“If we can order a new one, we will implement it. But we will also ask the suppliers to reduce their price,” he explained.
Jorge said his current stocks of regular milled rice are very low and he sells them at P50 per kilogram.
He added that most of the rice he sells are old and have poor quality.
“It’s really old stock from the suppliers,” he said.
“The regular-milled and well-milled rice is a bit yellow in color and has a lot of crumb.”
Jorge also sells black rice from Catigbian for P70 per kilogram and red and pink rice from Carmen for P60 and P63 per kilogram, respectively.
He said these are specialty rice varieties that are not covered by the price ceiling.
Some consumers expressed their frustration over the situation, saying they have no choice but to buy expensive and low-quality rice.
“There is no reason for the price ceiling sir because there are no stocks. Many stocks are expensive. We still have no choice”, said one consumer who declined to give his name. (with reports from Ted Ayeng)