Small rice retailers to get P15,000 cash aid this week

DAY TWO Prices of rice stay above the government-imposed cap as shown in this photo taken on Sept. 6 at the Marikina City public market as retailers sell varieties not covered by the directive. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Unregistered small rice retailers and sari-sari store owners selling rice will receive P5,000 to P15,000 to help curb the impact of President Marcos’ mandated rice price ceiling.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will begin the distribution of the cash assistance to small and micro rice retailers on Saturday in four cities in Metro Manila.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the President wanted the list of small retailers who will benefit from the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to be “inclusive.” “Unlicensed rice retailers and sari-sari store owners selling rice are also included in the SLP payout, which is in line with the President’s directive that the list of beneficiaries should be inclusive,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

He added: “The President knows the struggles of our rice retailers, and he understands that.”

Gatchalian made the announcement on Friday after the DSWD met with officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to finalize the initial list of small rice retailers who will receive cash aid from the government.The DSWD and the DTI will begin the distribution of the cash assistance on Saturday in public markets in Quezon City, Manila, Caloocan City and San Juan City.

Gatchalian and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual will lead the distribution of the cash aid at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City and Maypajo Market in Caloocan City on Saturday.

“Once we have the verified list of eligible small rice retailers, then we can have the payout the whole day of Saturday. The payout will be on the ground, meaning the DSWD paymasters will go to the marketplace where the rice retailers are,” he said.

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