Manila: The Department of Agriculture - Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO) in Negros Oriental has issued a warning to retailers selling imported rice, urging them to comply with the government's PHP50 per kilo price cap or face significant penalties.

According to Philippines News Agency, Dana Sampilo, who serves as the focal person for the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP), emphasized the need for consumers to be cautious when purchasing rice. Some sellers have been found to interchange the brand names of local and commercial rice to justify higher prices. Sampilo recounted an incident from last week when a DA-PATCO team visited a town in Negros Oriental following a complaint about a store allegedly selling imported rice above the price limit. The investigation revealed that the rice was local but falsely marketed as commercial. Although no arrests were made, the DA-PATCO issued a warning to the seller about potential penalties for continuing such practices.

Danford Sy, a significant rice wholesaler in the province, stated that their commercial rice is priced at PHP46 per kilogram, which allows retailers to earn a reasonable profit per 50-kilo bag if sold within the price cap. Despite adhering to the price limits at the wholesale level, Sy noted that they can't control how retailers price imported rice. The government has enforced a price cap for commercial rice from May 13 to June 13 under Executive Order 118 to curb unjustified price increases and prevent profiteering during these challenging times.