BACOLOD City — The Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved a resolution urging stricter monitoring and enforcement of Executive Order No. 118, which imposes a P50-per-kilogram price ceiling on imported rice, amid reports and complaints that some rice dealers and retailers may not be fully complying with the government-mandated cap.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Atty. Caesar Distrito and co-authored by Councilor Celia Flor, calls on local and national government agencies to intensify inspections and ensure that consumers benefit from the rice price ceiling imposed by Malacañang last month.
The measure urges the Bacolod City Price Monitoring Council, the city’s three market supervisors under the Office of the City Administrator, the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Office of Mayor Greg Gasataya, to strengthen monitoring efforts and take appropriate action against violators.
“Rice is a basic necessity for every Filipino family. The P50 rice price ceiling was established to make rice more affordable, and we must ensure that its benefits are felt by ordinary Bacolodnons,” Distrito said.
Flor stressed that effective implementation is key to the policy’s success.
“The success of this policy depends on effective monitoring and cooperation among concerned agencies to ensure compliance and protect consumers,” she said.
The resolution cited the Price Act, which authorizes government agencies to monitor prices and take action against profiteering, overpricing, and other illegal pricing practices.
Under the measure, authorities are encouraged to pursue appropriate administrative, civil, or criminal charges against individuals or establishments found violating the rice price cap and related laws.
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo said the city government continues to closely monitor rice prices in public markets across Bacolod to ensure compliance and protect consumers from excessive pricing.
The move underscores the city’s commitment to safeguarding affordable access to rice, a staple commodity for Filipino households, amid continuing concerns over food prices and market compliance./PN
