Rice retailers get relief

Micro traders get P15,000 aid from government

MANILA, Philippines — The government yesterday began distributing cash aid of P15,000 each to small retailers of rice affected by the newly imposed cap on rice prices, with Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian spearheading the launch of the program in Quezon City.

In his message to the beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Gatchalian said the distribution of cash assistance is in line with President Marcos’ directive to immediately assist rice retailers deemed most affected by Executive Order (EO) No. 39, which puts a cap on the price of rice at P41 per kilo for regular milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice. The EO took effect on Sept. 5.

“The President wants to convey his message that he understands what you are going through. I was talking to him yesterday and he knows that this is not easy for our micro rice retailers,” he said, addressing the retailers.

“That is why he immediately instructed us to provide this kind of financial assistance or livelihood grants to assist you,” Gatchalian added.

At the launch, Mayor Joy Belmonte thanked the President for giving priority to the micro retailers in the city.

She also praised rice traders for supporting Malacañang’s efforts to make the staple affordable to the people.

“We are fortunate because our city is the first one to benefit from this program … I thank you (retailers) because you are still selling even at zero profit,” the mayor said.

SLP distribution was also conducted in the cities of San Juan and Caloocan yesterday.

Gatchalian assured qualified micro retailers of rice who were unable to receive their share of cash aid yesterday that payout would continue in the following days. A total of 589 micro retailers from three public markets in Quezon City, San Juan and Caloocan received the cash aid.

SLP-cash aid payouts benefited 405 micro retailers at the Commonwealth Market, as well as 136 retailers at the Maypajo Market in Caloocan City and 48 at the 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 the solution... When we work together, we know that nothing is impossible,” Gatchalian said.

The official underscored that EO 39 is a “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.

Free stall rental

In San Juan City, Mayor Francis Zamora announced a month-long free rental of stalls for rice retailers at the Agora market, on top of the cash assistance of P5,000 from the city government and the P15,000 from the DSWD.

“A total of 48 registered small rice retailers from San Juan received a one-time aid of P15,000 from the national government and P5,000 from the San Juan local government unit in cash to help augment for the losses they will incur during the strict implementation of EO 39 which mandates the 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 the DSWD, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for what he called swift distribution of cash assistance to rice retailers.

“This is a big help to our rice sellers, especially since they are the ones greatly affected by the rice price ceiling,” he said.

Zamora also appealed for understanding from the rice retailers.

“To our retailers, we are also asking for your understanding and patience during this time. Rest assured that we are doing everything we can to help you in cushioning the impact of EO 39,” Zamora said.

The list of beneficiaries prepared by the DTI was based on record of registered retailers at Agora market and on the business permit and licensing office of the city government.

In a text message, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said President Marcos was satisfied with the conduct of the aid rollout and directed concerned agencies to ensure all beneficiaries get their share.

“This is just the beginning,” she said. “President Marcos wants all of those affected to receive assistance and that is the directive of the President to all concerned agencies.” – Jose Rodel Clapano, Alexis Romero