Group calls on rice traders to comply SRP

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

Northern Mindanao officials of the Grain Retailers Confederation of the Philippines (Grecon) on Monday appealed to rice traders in the public market to comply with the implementation of the suggested retail price (SRP) on commercial rice.

Grecon Normin president Helen Osin Fernandez said rice traders were affected by the recent implementation of the SRP by the National Food Authority (NFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Cagayan de Oro City Price Coordinating Council (CDO-CPCC)  and the Department of Agriculture (DA) should made some sacrifices.

“For us rice traders called the situation as crisis of change,” she said.

However, she said they believed and rely what the present administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has been doing for the Filipino’s main staple.

“Nagtuo kami nga kung unsa ang gihimo sa kasamtangan nga gobyerno, makaayo sa tanan. Kami nga mga retailers gamay lamang  nga porsyento. Pwede namo ibutang ang karon nga implementation as gamay nga puwerhisyo og diha na kami mamawi sa sunod nga panahon,” she said.

On Friday, the National Food Authority – 10 (NFA-10), Department of Trade and Industry(DTI- provincial office and the Philippine National Police has started to  impose sanctions on those who violate the SRP rule for both local and imported rice.

Fernandez said Grecon-Northern Mindanao will religiously support the SRP implementation ordered by President Duterte and sanctions will follow when found unimplemented in the local markets.

“Sakit man gyud kaayo apan amo gihapon nga supportahan,” she explained.

Meanwhile, CPCC vice-chairman Atty. Egay Uy said the NFA, DTI and DA should give the rice traders enough time in reconsidering the implementation because almost all of the rice traders has already purchased hundreds of sacks of rice from a higher price.

Uy said suggested that sanctions include a written warning for the first offense. For succeeding offenses, violators could suffer penalties of a jail term of between four months to four years and a fine of between P2,000 to P1 million. The NFA will also cancel their, license to engage in rice trading and retailing,” he pointed out.

The SRP rule is implemented to protect consumers and prevent profiteering. Initially, it was designed for Metro Manila and the

Greater Manila areas only but the NFA will soon announce the implementation of the SRP rule for all provinces and regional cities nationwide.

Last Oct. 27, the government officially imposed SRPs for rice in markets.

All commercial rice being sold in public markets must conform to the SRP, with the rice classified as either imported or local, and identified as regular-milled, well-milled, premium or special.JFC bats for 4 bills easing foreign equity limitations