Various farmer groups in Central Luzon and other parts of the country have expressed their strong support for the implementation of the mandated rice price ceilings recently approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
In an interview, Calaocan Paraiso Cooperative Rizal Vice President Diosdado Sagun said that they support the mandated rice price caps as it leveled the playing field in terms of accessibility and affordability of rice in markets nationwide.
Sagun added that the executive order is also an effective measure of the administration against rice hoarding, cartels, and smugglers as it will also address the artificial rice shortage and the price manipulation of the staple food.
“Napakaganda po nitong Executive Order (EO) 39 dahil para po kayang-kaya pong bilhin ng ating mamamayan ang halagang PhP41.00 hanggang PhP45.00 na ceiling price,” Sagun said as he thanked President Marcos for the strict implementation of the order.
“Kaya magiging pantay-pantay na po ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa mga mamamayan … nabigyan na po tayo ng ating mahal na Pangulo ng libreng fertilizer, cash assistance at saka binhi po kaya kayang-kaya na po ng ating magsasaka na maibigay po ang magandang presyo sa mga kasama natin sa ating kapuwa Pilipino,” he added.
President Marcos recently approved the recommendation of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the mandated price ceilings on regular and well-milled rice in the whole country.
Under EO 39, the mandated price ceiling on regular rice is PhP41.00 per kilogram while the mandated price cap on well-milled rice is PhP45.00 per kilogram. The order took effect on September 5, Tuesday this week.
San Roque Gulod Farmers’ Association Chairman Emerson Collantes, of Bulacan, echoed Sagun’s sentiments, saying that he is one with Filipino farmers who believed that the mandated price ceiling on rice is for the betterment of the country’s agricultural sector.
Farmer Joel Domingo from Tarlac also expressed his support for the mandated price ceiling on rice as he emphasized that the order of President Marcos is beneficial to all Filipinos amid the current surge of rice prices in the market nationwide.
“Compare naman doon sa presyo na tumatakbo ngayon sa labas na umaabot ng PhP50.00 hanggang PhP60.00 ang presyo ng bigas. Okay po sa amin, walang problema,” Domingo said when asked about his thoughts on the rice price ceilings.
Saturnino Destor, farm leader and a cooperative chairman in Pangasinan, also thanked President Marcos for coming up with a solution to address the surge of rice prices as it is already affecting Filipino people who find it hard to make ends meet.
Farmers Arthur Ribihing of Camarines Sur and Franklin Rodriguez of Oriental Mindoro have also expressed their support for the mandated price ceiling on rice as it was approved for the benefit of the majority of the Filipino people.
“Ako po ay sumusuporta at nagpapasalamat sa ating Pangulo sa dahilan na lahat ay gusto niyang magtulungan at isa pa po, kaming magsasaka ay talagang nararamdaman namin mula nang naging Pangulo siya na talaga ang suporta ay nasa mga magsasaka,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez is a member of the Salcedo Irrigators and Farmers Agricultural Cooperative (SIFAGCO) in Salcedo, Bansud in Oriental Mindoro.
Other farmers such as Rocky Gutierrez and Rommel Abon also supported the good intentions of the EO 39.
While they expressed support for the rice price caps, the farmers are recommending to President Marcos to implement also a mandated price cap on “palay” so that they will be able to sell it at a reasonable price to rice traders. PND
