Government agencies began distributing cash assistance on Saturday, Sept. 9, to micro retailers of rice who are affected by the implementation of the rice price ceiling under Executive Order No. 39.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said a P15,000 Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) cash aid was given to each of the 589 micro retailers affected by the price cap in three public markets in Quezon City, San Juan, and Caloocan.
Of this number, 405 were given to retailers at the Commonwealth Market, 136 at the Maypajo Market in Caloocan City, and 48 beneficiaries at the Agora Market.
“Ipinararating din ng ating mahal na Pangulo (Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) ang kaniyang mensahe na nauunawaan niya ang inyong pinagdadaanan,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.
“Kausap ko nga siya kahapon at alam niya na hindi madali para sa mga small rice retailers natin ang panahon na ito. Kaya agad-agad nyang naisip na magbigay ng ganitong tulong pinansyal o livelihood grants para matulungan po kayo,” he added.
The DSWD was joined by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture, and local government units.
The DSWD said the P15,000 SLP is based on DTI’s calculation “as the maximum amount allowed to compensate rice retailers classified as a micro-enterprise (based on Republic Act No. 9501 or Magna Carta for MSMEs) for losses incurred for at least seven days from the effectivity of EO 39.”
EO 39 took effect on Sept. 5, mandating a price cap of P41.00 per kilogram for regular milled rice and P45.00 for well-milled rice. AG
