Time to crack the whip!

NFA TO ENFORCE SANCTIONS,

SET PROVINCIAL SRPs NOV. 9

By Manny Piñol

On November 9, the National Food Authority, backed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine National Police, will start imposing sanctions against rice traders and retailers who have not complied with the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) set for both local and imported rice sold in the market.

On the same day, the NFA will also announce the implementation of the SRP Program covering all provinces and regional cities all over the country.

The SRP for Metro Manila and the Greater Manila Area was implemented on Oct. 27 although the penalties and fines could only be enforced 15 days after the publication of the guidelines as approved by the NFA Council.

The guidelines set the following SRPs:

– Regular Milled Rice (Local) – P39/kilo;

– Well-Milled Rice (Local) – P44/kilo

– Premium Rice (Local) – P47/kilo

– Well-Milled Rice (Imported) – P39/kilo

– Premium Rice (Imported) – P43/kilo

The retailers were also directed to stop using fancy names for rice like “Senandomeng,” “Super Angelica,” “Double Diamond,” and others which mislead the consumers.

Sanctions include a written warning on the first offense and for succeeding offenses, the violators could suffer penalties of a jail term of between four months to four years and a penalty of between P2,000 to P1-M.

The NFA will also cancel their licenses to engage in rice trading and retailing.

(Photo by Mayette Tudlas)