By Vincent P. Grecia
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started releasing the PhP 15,000 Sustainable Livelihood Program – Economic Relief Subsidy (SLP – ERS) to some 250 micro rice retailers in the region starting September 13.
DSWD 6 regional director Atty. Carmelo N. Nochete said the government allotted an initial amount of P3.75 million for the Western Visayas recipients.
The Department of Trade and Industry identified the rice retailers who will be provided with a maximum of P15,000 subsidy, a one-time assistance due to the rice price cap that affects small rice retailers.
Identified small rice retailers in Iloilo City, Bacolod City, and Negros Occidental received their subsidy on September 13 while Aklan, Antique, Guimaras and Capiz received theirs on September 14.
In Roxas City, at least 31 qualified rice retailers received their respective government subsidy for complying with the rice price cap as stipulated in Executive Order No. 39 of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. These include the 29 rice retailers from Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center (TACT) and two others from a public market along Burgos Street, all in this city.
“The subsidy will depend if the recipient is a plain retailer and or selling rice in a sari-sari store,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Capiz – Consumer Protection Unit head Merian Asas, adding that a venue and time are being finalized by the DTI and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the release of the assistance.
It may be recalled that the Roxas City Cereals Retailers Association (RCCRA) based at the TATC was among the first to announce and comply with the EO No. 39 in the region after a series of consultations and dialogue with the rice retailers of the DTI, Department Agriculture, and local governments.
Asas noted Capiz vice-governor and Grains Retailers’ Confederation of the Philippines Inc. (GRECON) president Jaime Magbanua has helped a lot in the decision of the rice retailers.
Meanwhile, 14 retailers from Iloilo City received their subsidy on Sept. 13 at the office of Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon.
In her message, DTI officer-in-charge Regional Director for Western Visayas Ermelinda Pollentes said prioritized in the list were registered retailers that were compliant with EO 39.
The focus of the DTI is to monitor manufactured basic needs and prime commodities, but they were requested to help the Department of Agriculture (DA), she added.
The EO puts the price of regular milled rice at P41.00 per kilo and well-milled rice at P45.00 each kilogram.
The implementation of the subsidy, under the SLP – ERS, to help small rice retailers cope with the impact of losses due to the imposition of price ceiling and freezing of rice prices in the country as mandated by the President under Executive Order 39. (PIA-6)
