RICE retailers in Tarlac City are set to receive financial assistance from the local government once a resolution or ordinance is passed.

The move was discussed during a series of meetings between a group of vendors from the Tarlac public market and joint committees of the city council.

Vendors expressed concern about the continuous increase in rice prices due to hoarding perpetrated by certain suppliers who dictate the amount of the goods.

Councilor Emily Ladera-Facunla, who heads the Committee on Market and Slaughterhouse, cited a Department of the Interior and Local Government memorandum encouraging local government support for rice retailers.

However, Ladera-Facunla noticed that financial support was not mentioned in the said order, so she sought the opinion of lawyer Eljohn Hipolito of the City Legal Office.

Hipolito said the memorandum does not prohibit the provision of financial assistance to rice retailers, provided that the local government can extend such support.

To specify statistics of rice retailers in the city, Councilor Vladimir Rodriguez, chairman of the Committee on Laws, Rules, and Good Government, asked the City Economic Enterprise and Management Office (Ceemo) for the details.

Mina Tañedo, Ceemo head, said that out of 43 registered rice retailers in Tarlac markets, 25 remain active and focused on selling the commodity solely.

Meanwhile, Councilor Necito Chua, who heads the Committee on Trade and Commerce, said that the financial support would augment the vendors’ daily target sales and sustain their family needs.

He then urged Ceemo and other concerned departments to conduct extensive information and education campaigns among all market vendors regarding the plan to establish an understanding of the issue.

The meetings resulted in the decision of the committees to formulate and pass an ordinance for a moratorium on stall rentals and a resolution that will pave the way for financial assistance among registered rice retailers.

Published Date: November 12, 2023