BUTUAN CITY – At least 452 rice traders affected by the rice price cap in Caraga Region received financial aid through the Economic Relief Program (ERP) under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Clea Mariel Camba, the Social Marketing Officer of SLP at the DSWD-13, said in an interview on Tuesday (Oct. 31) that the beneficiaries received a total ERP aid of PHP6.7 million as of Oct. 30.
The DSWD-13 counted 487 target participants in the program, but as of this month, only 452 showed up to claim their financial aid, she said.
“The remaining 35 participants could no longer claim their aid, as the remaining funds were already returned to the Bureau of Treasury when the rice price cap was lifted,” Camba said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 39 in August, imposing mandated price ceilings on rice in the country.
The price ceilings had been lifted in September. (PNA)
