Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it is prepared to provide cash assistance to small rice retailers who may suffer losses as a result of the Malacanang-mandated rice price ceiling, which came into effect on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed DSWD Secretary Gatchalian to use the department's Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to assist small rice retailers in recovering their potential losses from the temporary price cap.

Gatchalian said the SLP currently has a P5.5 billion budget that can be used immediately to help cushion the impact of the rice price cap, particularly among small rice retailers with limited inventory.

The SLP is a capacity-building program that offers small business start-up capital, capital for cases similar to the effects of Executive Order (EO) 39 on small businesses, and employment grants.

Under EO 39, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Aug. 31, the mandated price ceiling for regular milled rice is P41 per kilogram, while the mandated price cap for well-milled rice is P45 per kilogram.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) will provide the DSWD with a list of qualified small rice retailers, Gatchalian said.

“Hopefully, by next week, we can conduct a payout for the sustainable livelihood grant to our affected rice retailers,” he added.

Qualified recipients may receive a maximum amount of P15,000.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

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