Relief for rice retailers
By NIdz Godino
"The President wants to convey his message he understands what you are going through… I was talking to him and he knows this is not easy for our micro rice retailers," Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said, addressing retailers government began distributing cash aid of P15,000 each to small retailers of rice affected by newly imposed cap on rice prices, with himself spearheading the launch of program in Quezon City.
In his message to beneficiaries of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)'s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Gatchalian said distribution of cash assistance is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to immediately assist rice retailers deemed most affected by Executive Order (EO) No. 39, which puts cap on price of rice at P41 per kilo for regular milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice. EO took effect on Sept. 5,2023.
"That is why he immediately instructed us to provide this kind of financial assistance or livelihood grants to assist you," Gatchalian stressed.
At launch, Mayor Ma. Josefina "Joy" Belmonte-Alimurung thanked the President for giving priority to micro retailers in the city.
She also praised rice traders for supporting Malacañang's efforts to make staple affordable to people.
"We are fortunate because our city is first one to benefit from this program … I thank you retailers because you are still selling even at zero profit," the mayor said. distribution was also conducted in cities of San Juan and Caloocan.
Gatchalian assured qualified micro retailers of rice who were unable to receive their share of cash aid payout would continue in following days. Total of 589 micro retailers from three public markets in Quezon City, San Juan and Caloocan received cash aid.
SLP-cash aid payouts benefited 405 micro retailers at Commonwealth Market, as well as 136 retailers at Maypajo Market in Caloocan City and 48 at Agora Market in San Juan City.
"On behalf of President Bongbong Marcos, we thank our small rice retailers like you who followed immediately and helped to be part of solution... when we work together, we know that nothing is impossible," Gatchalian said.
EO 39 is "mechanism to protect our small buyers."
"We know that it is also important that they have food on the table, but our President knows that we should also help you, our partners, in delivering food services to our people," he added.
In San Juan City, Mayor Francis Zamora announced month-long free rental of stalls for rice retailers at Agora market, on top of cash assistance of P5,000 from city government and P15,000 from DSWD.
"Total of 48 registered small rice retailers from San Juan received one-time aid of P15,000 from national government and P5,000 from San Juan local government unit in cash to help augment for losses they will incur during strict implementation of EO 39 mandates temporary price caps on regular-milled P41 per kilogram and P45 per kilogram on well-milled rice, which started last Sept. 5," Zamora said.
He thanked DSWD, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture (DA) for what he called swift distribution of cash assistance to rice retailers.
"This is big help to our rice sellers, especially since they are ones greatly affected by rice price ceiling," he said.
Zamora also appealed for understanding from rice retailers.
"To our retailers, we are also asking for your understanding and patience during this time. ..rest assured we are doing everything we can to help you in cushioning impact of EO 39," Zamora said.
List of beneficiaries prepared by DTI was based on record of registered retailers at Agora market and on business permit and licensing office of city government.
In text message, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said President Marcos was satisfied with conduct of said rollout and directed concerned agencies to ensure all beneficiaries get their share.
"This is just beginning," she said. "President Marcos wants all of those affected to receive assistance and that is directive of President to all concerned agencies."
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