KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order No. 39 s. 2023, imposing price ceilings on rice. 
 
“Imposing a price ceiling [on rice] is only proper. What is important is that the implementation of this executive order won’t affect our rice farmers and retailers,” Gov. Tamayo told the local press.
 
He also advised rice industry middlemen to understand the purpose of the executive order and the imposition of the price cap.
 
Middlemen should limit their profits, thereby allowing both retailers and rice growers to earn income, he elaborated.
 
On August 31, President Marcos signed EO 39, imposing caps on prices at P41 per kg for regular milled rice and P45 per kg for well-milled rice.
 
Earlier, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued a joint memorandum to impose a rice price ceiling to ensure that the staple is reasonably priced and conveniently accessible to Filipinos.
 
EO 39, which took effect on September 5, will remain in full force and effect unless lifted by PBBM upon the recommendation of the Price Coordinating Council or the DA and DTI.
 
In the same presser, Gov. Tamayo also clarified that the provincial government here has not monitored hoarding of rice stock.
 
"Regarding rice hoarding, so far we have not monitored any,” Tamayo said, adding that rice supply here exceeds the demand requirement of the province. “In fact, we deliver rice to other provinces."
 
Meanwhile, Andy Ango, chief of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of DA-RFO 12, said that rice retailers in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region immediately complied with EO 39.
 
As of this week, all rice retailers in General Santos City and Kidapawan City are already compliant with the mandated price ceilings, while 90% of retailers in Koronadal City and 80% in Tacurong City have abided by the order.
 
“The second leg of joint price monitoring will start tomorrow (September 15) in other markets in Region 12,” Ango told the Philippine Information Agency. (DED -- PIA SOCCSKSARGEN)