![The Department of Social Welfare and Development has disbursed a total of P13,920,000 to 928 rice retailers in Western Visayas. [DSWD-6 photo]](http://media.assettype.com/sunstar%2Fimport%2Fuploads%2Fimages%2F2023%2F09%2F25%2F466806.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
A total of P13,920,000 was released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development through its Sustainable Livelihood Program—Economic Relief Subsidy (SLP-ERS) to 928 rice retailers in Western Visayas as part of the second wave of payouts.
Micro rice retailers affected by Executive Order 39, which mandates price ceilings on rice, received a one-time subsidy of P15,000.
Iloilo province had the most recipients, with 269; Negros Occidental, 204; Capiz, 172; Antique, 165; Aklan, 97; Guimaras, 17; and Iloilo City, 4.
The cash assistance recipients include registered and unregistered micro-rice retailers identified by the Department of Trade and Industry.
As of September 22, a total of 1,179 micro-rice retailers from Region 6 have received a combined sum of P17,685,000.
The SLP-ERS is initiated by the Sustainable Livelihood Program in support of the President's initiative to stabilize rice prices in the country and provide limited economic relief to vulnerable micro-rice retailers affected by the imposed price ceiling and the freezing of rice prices.
The remaining 39 target recipients who were not able to receive the aid will be given in another schedule for payout.*