DCPO: report rice traders violating price ceiling

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) called on the public to report rice vendors found to violate the newly mandated price caps on rice.

On August 31, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed Executive Order No. 39 mandating the retail price ceiling for rice in the market.

According to EO 39, the price ceiling for regular milled rice is capped at P41 per kilogram, while well-milled rice is set at P45 per kilogram.

Rice retailers will be monitored and made to follow these price marks by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

DCPO spokesperson PCapt. Hazel Tuazon said the Philippine National Police, along with other law enforcement agencies, are mandated to assist in the full implementation of the presidential order by apprehending violators.

“Gitahasan ang PNP ug other law enforcement agencies na i-assist nato ang atong DTI ug DA para masigurado na gipatuman gyud sa atong mga negosyante sa bugas nga ilahang gisunod,” Tuazon said during the Serbisyo Legal program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Tuesday.

Tuazon urged citizens to report rice retailers who do not abide by the price ceiling and continue to charge buyers beyond P41-45 per kilogram of rice. She also asked the public to report violators to the nearest police station.

Gi-awhag nato atong kaigsoonang Dabawenyo na kung naa sila’y nakita na wala misunod o misupak sa mando sa atong presidente, sa wala pag-follow sa price na P41 to P45- atong gi-awhag sila na muadto sa nearest police station para ma-record nato og atong matabangan atoang Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry para sa pagpatuman ani para sa atong kaigsoonang Dabawenyo na gimahalan na gyud sa presyo sa bugas (We urge our Dabawenyo brothers and sisters that if they have seen rice retailers that did not follow or oppose the order of our president by not following the price of P41 to P45- we urge them to go to nearest police station so that we can put them into record and help our Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry to implement this for our fellow Dabawenyos who are really affected by the surging price of rice),” she said.

Penalties for violating the order are yet to be set by the enforcing agencies. The EO will remain in full implementation until lifted by the president. CIO