LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 97

TO    :      The Secretary of Agriculture and

        Natural Resources
        The Secretary of National Defense
        The Chief of Constabulary
        The Administrator, National Grains Authority
        All National and Local Officials Concerned

1.    All Provincial Governors and City Mayors shall be responsible for the trading and movement of commercial stocks of rice and corn within and from their respective provinces/cities, subject to the overall supervision and control of the National Grains Authority with the assistance of the Philippine Constabulary. 

2.    The National Grains Authority shall establish price ceilings in the different regions of the country for rice, whether domestic or imported, provided that the retail price ceiling for any variety of rice shall not exceed P3.50 per ganta or P1.45 per kilo.

3.    Pending the final recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture on the price of corn, the National Grains Authority, Philippine Constabulary and other enforcement agencies of the government shall refrain from implementing the price ceilings on corn grits and corn grain sold in the following provinces and all cities located thereat: Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Leyte del Sur and Siquijor. The National Grains Authority is hereby empowered to add to this list of provinces/cities from time to time as the supply and demand situation may warrant. 

4.    The National Grains Authority, in consultation with the Coordinating Body created under Letter of Instruction No. 88, shall promulgate appropriate rules and regulations to implement this Letter of Instruction.

5.    The provisions of Letter of Instruction Nos. 79, 88 and other Letters of Instruction inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Since 19.07.98.