As to the immediate compliance of the directive, the local retailers are quite hesitant thinking of their losses since their stocks were bought at a much higher price.

With the assurance given by the government to provide support in defraying their losses, Jabile said they are willing to immediately comply with the directive.

Another rice retailer at the San Jose Business Park expressed support for the rice price ceiling however, he is also uncertain if his capital could be recovered if he drops the price as directed.

As of recent monitoring, local rice retailers are not yet implementing the price cap in the local public market, though the price of regular milled rice decreased only by P1 to P2 from P50 to P48 per kilo for regular milled rice and the price of well-milled rice was at P55 per kilo.

In addition, Jabile also reported the decrease in wholesale prices of well-milled rice and regular milled rice as per coordination with the local millers- an indication of their compliance with the directive on putting a price cap on local rice.

It could be noted that Antique is a surplus province in terms of rice production as per the report of the Provincial Statistics Office and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

In coordination with DTI Antique, Trade and Industry Development Specialist Arnel Oliveros said they are currently conducting a profiling/monitoring of rice retailers and establishments selling rice in San Jose de Buenavista, as well as in other towns of the province.