(Photo by Janna Pineda/PIA-NCR)
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — Parañaque City rice retailers receive cash assistance on Monday, September 11, as part of the national government’s measure to mitigate the impacts of the mandated price ceiling under Executive Order No. 39 (EO 39).
One hundred twenty nine (129) small and medium-scale rice retailers from the City composed the first batch who received P15,000 each sufficient to help them replenish buffer stock for at least seven days since the effectivity of the law.
The assistance is a joint initiative of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with the City Government of Parañaque led by Mayor Eric Olivarez.
“Malaking tulong ito sa ating mga small rice retailers. Sa tulong po ng ating Presidente kasama po ang DTI makatutulong itong P15,000 na financial assistance sa aming small rice retailers,” Mayor Olivarez said during the payout Monday, September 11, at the Paranaque City Hall grounds.
Aside from the assistance, Mayor Olivarez also mentioned another aid that the national government can provide to rice retailers.
“Mayroon din po tayong P10,000 na loan na ibinibigiay through DSWD sa mga small retailers na kailangan ng tulong,” he said.
Madel Cagete, a medium rice retailer said that they were severely affected of the implementation but saw it as a helping hand to consumers burdened by the high prices of rice.
“Kasi biruin mo nung nagpatupad ng ganyan ang nakukuha naming bigas is nag-rarange sa 49 to 50 ang presyo. Tapos nang biglang ibinaba ng 41 hanggang 45 luging-lugi talaga, pero kahit na lugi, iniisip ko nalang na tumutulong ako sa kapwa ko,” she said in an interview.
EO39 imposes a price ceiling for regular milled-rice at P41 per kilogram (kg) and well-milled rice at P45 per kg.
Small-scale rice retailers need not to apply for the cash aid. DSWD and other concerned agencies, with the help of the LGU, will find a way to reach out to them. (PIA-NCR)
