CASH ASSISTANCE. Micro rice retailers go through the process of validation before receiving government emergency relief aid, in this photo taken on Sept. 22, 2023. The Department of Social Welfare and Development will conduct its third payout on Friday (Sept. 29, 2023) for 405 other beneficiaries affected by the mandated rice price cap. (PNA photo by Mary Judaline Flores Partlow)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will hand over more than PHP6 million in emergency relief assistance to 405 micro rice retailers in Negros Oriental on Friday.
This will be the government’s third payout in Negros Oriental to help micro rice retailers cope with their losses after the issuance of Executive Order 39 mandating a price cap on regular and well-milled rice at PHP41 per kg. and PHP45 per kg., respectively.
“The latest cash assistance distribution includes this time, sari-sari stores and other outlets, such as agri-vet shops that also sell rice and have been endorsed by the different local government units,” Jade Krystle Bato, information officer of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here, said on Thursday.
The latest batch of beneficiaries underwent strict validation to ensure they are qualified to receive the assistance.
This brings to 541 the total micro rice retailers in Negros Oriental who have been identified to receive cash assistance under the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program - Economic Relief Subsidy.
On Sept. 22, the DSWD released PHP1.14 million to 76 beneficiaries and before that, PHP900,000 to 60 others.
Friday’s distribution of the cash assistance will be held at the Robinsons Place shopping mall in this capital city.
It will be done simultaneously in the provinces of Cebu with 1,103 beneficiaries; Bohol, 434; and Siquijor, 44.
Meanwhile, the DTI reported that the majority, if not all, of the micro rice retailers in the province are now selling their regular and well-milled rice at the mandated price.
Bato said this is most likely due to the retailers having already witnessed the release of government aid to help them recoup their losses. (PNA)
