SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-La Union bared the continuing compliance of rice retailers in La Union province to the price cap ceiling mandated by Executive Order (EO) No. 39.
 
The said compliance was shared by DTI La Union Provincial Director Merlie Membrere during a dialogue that the provincial office had with the Local Economic and Business Development Office (LEBDO).
 

Director Membrere said that staff from DTI La Union joined forces with the Provincial Government of La Union’s Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) and the Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) for monitoring the public markets of Agoo town and the San Fernando City on September 6 on the compliance of establishments to the price cap ceiling.
 
“Nakita natin na lahat sila [rice retailers] ay nag-comply sa mandate ng EO 39. Nakita rin natin na mayroon pa silang available stocks of well-milled and regular milled rice, particularly in the City of San Fernando,” Director Membrere said.
 
She also clarified that EO 39 does not cover all classes of rice and the price cap ceiling pertains only to well-milled and regular-milled rice in the market.

The DTI La Union shall also continue its monitoring to ensure the continuing compliance to EO 39 of rice retailers in La Union province while also urging the public to report cases of non-compliance to the DTI-La Union.
 
“Kung may mga makita po tayong hindi pa nagco-comply, please get in touch with us. Magmomonitor po tayo para maipaliwanag sa kanila [ang price cap ceiling na ito],” Director Membrere said.
 
The City of San Fernando, through Mayor Hermenegildo Gualberto, meanwhile assured rice retailers affected by the price cap ceiling of assistance for the former to recoup their losses.
 
Mayor Gualberto added that his office has already coordinated with the DTI, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Province of La Union’s OPAg for other possible assistance that may be given to affected rice retailers in the city. (JCR/AMB/CCMT, PIA La Union).