Special task force
A MULTI-pronged “plan of action” is required to efficiently implement President Marcos’ executive order setting price ceilings on rice amid the surge in the cost of the Filipinos’ staple.
That’s why it is commendable that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has created a task force to ensure that consumers are protected and affected retailers receive state assistance.
Through Executive Order(EO) No. 39, which took effect Tuesday, President Marcos set the cap of P41 a kilo for regular-milled rice and P45 for well-milled grain.
The President from Ilocos Norte ordered the rollout of assistance for retailers and wholesalers affected by the implementation of the government-decreed price caps.
Member-agencies of the Special Task Force (STF) are set to conduct profiling and validation of rice retailers, who can receive the government financial assistance or “ayuda.”
The Chief Executive said that studies conducted by various agencies “found no good reason why the price of rice should exceed P50 a kilo.”
President Marcos added “the only reason for this is that smugglers and the hoarders are really there.”
He explained that he did not really want to intervene in the local market dynamics.
The President said he was forced to step in because the “market is being manipulated.”
