CASH AID. A rice retailer receives PHP15,000 cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Zambales on Monday (Oct. 2, 2023) as part of the second wave of payouts. So far, a total of 2, 639 rice retailers in Central Luzon have received government aid for complying with Executive Order (EO) 39 that sets a cap on the selling price of regular milled and well-milled rice. (Photo courtesy of DSWD Region 3)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Over 2,600 rice retailers in Central Luzon have so far received government aid for complying with Executive Order (EO) 39 that sets a cap on the selling price of regular milled and well-milled rice starting last September.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Consumer Protection Division chief, Jerry Maglalang, said in a press briefing on Tuesday that a total of 2,639 out of the 3,116 targeted rice retailers in the region have received cash assistance amounting to PHP15,000 each.
“This translates to 84.69 percent of the targeted rice retailers for a total amount of PHP39,585,000,” Maglalang said.
He said the second payout in the region was held in the provinces of Zambales and Bataan on Monday while the first was conducted on Sept. 12.
The cash aid is part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program – Economic Relief Subsidy (SLP – ERS) which aligns with the government’s commitment to support micro rice retailers and ensure the availability of affordable rice for consumers.
Christiana Almodovar, one of the rice retailers-beneficiaries, thanked the government for the assistance as she cited the invaluable support it provides to their businesses and their ability to continue offering affordable rice to the public.
“Maraming salamat po kay President Bongbong Marcos, sa DTI at sa DSWD sa financial assistance na ipinagkaloob nila. Malaking tulong po ito sa amin para makabili pa ng mga bigas na maibebenta naming sa publiko sa abot-kayang presyo (Thank you very much to President Bongbong Marcos, to DTI and to the DSWD for the financial assistance they provided. This is a big help for us as we could buy new rice stocks that we could sell to the public at an affordable price,” Almodovar said in an interview.
Andy Osias, a rice retailer from Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija province, is likewise thankful for the timely cash assistance.
“Yung PHP15,000 cash assistance ay malaking tulong po sa aming mga maliliit na rice retailer. Yung mga dating stocks namin ay naabutan kasi ng mataas na presyo. Kaya kahit kami ay malugi ay sumunod po kami sa price ceiling (The PHP15,000 cash assistance is a big help for the small rice retailers like us. Our old stocks were sold at high prices. So even if we lose, we follow the price ceiling),” he said in a local television interview.
Osias said before the EO was issued, he already had stocks at his store including well-milled rice which was bought at PHP50 per kilogram.
The DTI, however, noted that the recent condition shows that the price ceiling may be lifted soon.
He said the harvest season is expected to increase the local rice supply which could result in lower prices. (PNA)
