A TOTAL of 87 micro rice retailers in Central Visayas affected by the recently ordered price caps on rice have received the P15,000 cash aid from the government.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7, together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7, Department of Agriculture 7, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government 7, conducted a simultaneous release of the financial assistance across the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
DSWD 7, in a statement, said the recipients were the first batch of beneficiaries that were affected by the implementation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order 39, which sets a price cap on regular-milled rice at P41 per kilo and well-milled rice at P45 per kilo.
In Cebu, eight micro rice retailers in Cebu City, three in the southern town of Minglanilla, and six in the northern town of Consolacion received the cash aid.
The DSWD 7 distributed cash aid to six micro rice retailers in the towns of Jagna, Carmen, Sevilla and Ubay, and in Tagbilaran City in Bohol.
DSWD 7 Director Shalaine Lucero, DA 7 Director Angel Enriquez and DTI 7 Director Maria Elena Arbon led the release of financial assistance to 53 of 63 beneficiaries in Negros Oriental.
A lone recipient from the town of Lazi in Siquijor received the cash aid in front of her store.
According to the DTI 7, the recipients qualified for the one-time financial assistance under the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program-Economic Relief Subsidy.
The National Government allocated P945,000 for the 63 recipients in Negros Oriental; P255,000 for the 17 recipients in Cebu; P90,000 for the six recipients in Bohol; and P15,000 for the sole recipient in Siquijor.
The DTI 7 identified and validated the list of recipients, who had incurred income losses since EO 39 took effect on Sept 5.
To qualify, micro rice retailers have to be registered with the Business Permits and Licensing Office or be registered as sole proprietors with the DTI. Unregistered rice retailers have to be validated by market administrators, and verified by the DTI.
