MANILA -- The Office of the Executive Secretary clarified on Friday that Executive Order (EO) No. 39, which sets a price ceiling on regular and well-milled rice in the whole country will take effect on September 5, Tuesday.

OES Undersecretary Leonardo Roy Cervantes said that the price cap on rice will take effect immediately upon publication of EO No. 39 in national newspapers.

As stated under EO No. 39, the mandated price of regular milled rice is PhP41.00 per kilogram while well-milled rice is PhP45.00 per kilogram.

The Office of the Executive Secretary also emphasized that any inquiry or complaint about the executive order can be coursed through the government’s 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on August 31 to impose mandated price ceilings on rice amid the current surge in retail prices of rice in the country.

President Marcos has directed the DA and the DTI to jointly monitor the prices of rice by visiting wet markets, supermarkets, warehouses and storage areas to effectively implement the order and to prevent hoarding, profiteering and other illegal activities. (PND)