SUPPORT TO RICE RETAILERS. Three rice retailers from Butuan City availed of the cash assistance on Thursday (Sept. 14, 2023) in line with the implementation of Executive Order No 39 that set price caps for regular and well-milled rice. The DSWD-13 says 34 rice retailers from four provinces in the region have already availed of the cash aid. (Photo courtesy of DSWD-13)
BUTUAN CITY – Thirty-four rice retailers from four provinces in the Caraga Region received PHP15,000 cash assistance each during the simultaneous payout activities on Thursday by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-13) in the area.
In a statement Friday, DSWD-13 said the aid under the agency's Economic Relief Subsidy (ERS) of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) "is an effort of the Marcos administration to assist micro rice retailers affected by the implementation of Executive Order No. 39.”
EO 39, which took effect last Sept. 5, mandated a price cap of PHP41 per kilo for regular milled rice and PHP45 for well-milled rice.
“The SLP-ERS is an effort of the DSWD, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Agriculture (DA) under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to aid the affected rice retailers,” the agency said.
Of the total number of beneficiaries, the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur had 12 each; Surigao del Sur, six; Agusan del Norte with four, including three from this city.
Mercidita Sonora, one of the beneficiaries from this city, described the aid as a “big help” to make up for the losses she incurred.
“We are just small rice retailers. We will follow the executive order issued by the President,” Sonora said during an interview with a local radio station here on Friday.
She said there is no rice available for milling in Butuan City as the harvest is over and that sources of regular and well-milled rice are coming from Davao City.
The DSWD-13 said it will continue to conduct validation for more rice retailers who would avail of the financial assistance in coordination with partner agencies. (PNA)
