Before the implementation, retailers in the region sell rice in different variety ranging from P 50 to P60 per kilogram.

Lorena de Leon, salesperson in Davao del Norte, expressed her approval on the price caps saying that it will ease their expenses considering their family’s income.

“Wala juy nalipay aning mahal na bugas. Pila ra gud tawon among sweldo, dayon mahal kaayo ang bugas. Unya usahay among bana, wala pa juy trabaho (No one is happy on the high-cost of rice. We don’t get paid that much and the rice is so pricey. Then there are times that our husbands have no work.),” she said.

An employee of a banana company, Joy Gahid, feels elated with the President’s order as she can bring more food for her family and goodies for her children.

In social media, netizens in Davao region are also quick to agree to the directive of the President.

Wilmie Escoltor, 30 years old, conveyed his  jubilance because of the EO as he recounted buying rice for P60 per kilogram.

Also, Joy Bautista-Gayo, a mother of 3 children, posted that the directive will somehow allow them to save for their future needs.

“Maka save gyud siya kung magbaba gyud ang presyo, makapalit pa og lamian nga sud-an (We can really save our budget if the price will decrease, and we can buy more delicious food),” she said.

In response to the Executive Order of the President, the Special Inter-Agency Task Force on Price Monitoring and Enforcement of Davao Region visited three of the six accredited rice importer warehouses in Davao City, which are listed as major distributors of imported and local rice in the Davao Region and neighboring localities.

Leading the special task force is the authorized commodity monitoring agency, which is the Department of Agriculture.

In Davao de Oro, local government units are now activating Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) and have partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in conducting price monitoring on the rice retailers in the province.

During the surveillance, some retailers are still selling their rice higher than the mandated price caps as they reasoned to have bought it at a higher price also.

With this, the local government unit of Nabunturan, with the instruction of Mayor Myrocel Balili, called on rice retailers and traders for a dialogue on September 8, with a hope to find solutions to heed to EO 39.

Meanwhile, Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) offered financial assistance for the affected rice retailers during this emergency situation.

“Ang DSWD naglalabas naman ng livelihood assistance grant. Mayroon din tayong program, ‘yung Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Kasama diyan ‘yung pagbigay ng dagdag capital sa mga ganitong mga panahon para hindi malugi an gating mga maliliit na negosyante sa mga hindi inaasahan na pagkakataon,” he said. (MLU/with reports from JMS/MEB/PIA Davao)