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MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is ready to provide cash assistance to small rice retailers who may incur losses as Executive Order (EO) 39, which sets a price ceiling on regular and well-milled rice, took effect Tuesday.
In a radio interview on Tuesday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said he was directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday to use the department’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in anticipation of small rice retailers’ losses from the temporary price cap.
The SLP is a capacity-building program that provides start-up capital for those who wish to start a small business; capital build for cases similar to the effects of the EO 39 to small businesses; and employment grants.
Gatchalian said the SLP currently has a PHP5.5-billion budget which can be immediately used to help cushion the impact of the price cap on rice, particularly among small retailers who have very small inventory.
He said the DSWD is just waiting for the list of qualified small rice retailers which will be provided by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“Hopefully by next week ay makapagbigay na tayo ng (we can already start the) payout under the sustainable livelihood grant para sa ating mga apektadong (for our affected) rice retailers,” Gatchalian said.
Qualified recipients will receive a one-time financial aid amounting to a maximum of PHP15,000, he said.
To date, the DTI and the DA are currently compiling a list of the affected rice traders and retailers who will receive the government’s assistance.
Gatchalian also had a meeting Monday with Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who vowed to raise PHP2 billion to help augment the SLP budget for the benefit of more small rice traders and retailers.
“I told Speaker Romualdez that the SLP’s PHP5.5 billion is enough to help the distressed small rice retailers. But I also welcome the additional budget as this would mean more Filipinos will be given assistance under the SLP,” Gatchalian said.
Under EO 39 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Aug. 31, the mandated price ceiling for regular milled rice is PHP41 per kilo while the mandated price cap for well-milled rice is PHP45 per kilo.
EO 39 serves as the strongest weapon to date of the Marcos administration to protect consumers against hoarders, rice cartels and illegal price manipulators.
It mandates a coordinated effort among various agencies to ensure the strict implementation of the mandated price ceilings; intensify the fight against hoarding and illegal importation of rice; and take measures against cartels to ensure fair market competition and uphold consumer welfare and protection.
Emergency response
Meanwhile, Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo is pushing for a national rice emergency response that seeks to shield consumers and local farmers, as well as traders, during tight conditions in the market, such as dwindling supply and soaring prices of rice.
House Bill 9030, or the proposed Philippine Rice Emergency Response Act, provides a "strategic set of solutions" that the government could implement during times of anticipated shortages and sustained price spikes of the staple food.
"As a short-term intervention, this bill seeks to give the government ample authority to address immediate concerns of a rice shortage, insulating the Filipino public of its adverse effects," read the bill's explanatory note.
"In so doing, it gives the government enough breathing room in its quest to provide medium and long-term solutions such as productivity enhancement for farmers and provision of credit and logistical support," she added. (with reports from Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
