ILOILO CITY (PIA6) – Worried and frightened by possibilities – these are just some of the emotions that rice retailers have probably felt the first time they heard of the Executive Order No. 39 issued by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., mandating a rice price cap in the markets.
“Ang bugas bi mahal kuha namon tapos ginabaligya namon sa manubo nga presyo, so, apektado gid na kami eh,” Cliford Lozada from Calinog, Iloilo said in an interview.
(We get the rice at a higher price, then we sell it low, so we are very much affected.)
“Una anay daw nagworry gid kami nga baw maperdi kami kay baligya mo nubo ang bugas,” Delia Tribunsay, a 72-year old rice retailer from Tigbauan, Iloilo also said.
(At first, we were really worried to lose income because we are selling the rice at a low price.)
Tribunsay, however, pointed out that she understood the move of the government as it is one way to also help the public, particularly those who are in need.
“Ah kag because man sang mga tao nga nagakinahanglan man sang bulig so gin amat-amat ko na lesser ang price, ginbalik ko sa capital kag sang ulihi ginpanaba ko na lang tungod sa mga tao nga imol kag mas gakinahanglan,” she added.
(Since people needed the help, I gradually lessen the price of rice, returned the capital and eventually reduce further the price because I feel it is needed by more people.)
Another rice-retailer, Cynthia Geranda, 72, from Guimbal, Iloilo said that despite the income losses, they still continue to follow the EO since it is mandated by the President, and was hopeful that the government would find solutions to address the impact of the said order.
“Ti kay gin declare nga amu na dapat ang price sang bugas, so bali bisan magperdi ta, ti kay amu na ang layi, so sundon ta. Nakabatyag gid kami nga perdi gid sa capital, may losses gid,” Geranda said.
(Since it was declared and it is the law, even if we gain nothing in the end, we followed although we felt the impact and the loss.)
Lozada, Tribunsay, and Geranda are just some of the rice retailers in Iloilo who expressed expected sentiments of worry as they incurred income losses due to the price cap mandate that they continue to follow.
But on Thursday, September 28, 2023, the three, together with the 314 other Ilonggo rice retailers who complied with the mandate, had somehow released the burdens they carry as they finally received their cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program-Economic Relief Subsidy (SLP-ERS).
The beneficiaries from the province and city of Iloilo who were verified by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the third batch of payout received P15,000 each for them to cope with the impact of income losses due to the price cap.
Billy Tablati, 69 years old and one of the beneficiaries from Tubungan, Iloilo, thanked the government for the cash assistance, stressing that it would be a big help to regain their losses.
“Ang bulig sini is bakal ko naman ni liwat sang bugas para sa store kag dako man ni mabulig na sa amon. Nalipay gid ako, kami nga amu ni ang bulig sang aton nga gobyerno,” Tablati said.
(This help, I will again buy rice for y store. This is a big help to us. I am so happy, us that the government helped us.)
“Hanggod gid ang bulig na kay ipangumpra namon ja liwat ti bugas para mauli-ulian gawa
ang amon nga perdi kay mga 9 man ni ka sako igu-an na,” Asuncion Elbanbuena, 73, from Igbaras, Iloilo also said. Similarly, Tribunsay expressed her gratitude to the government, citing that President Marcos Jr. is already starting to fulfill his promise of lowering the price of rice in the country.
(This is a big help because with this we can buy rice in bulk again and we can bounce back again. This is about 9 sacks of rice.)
“Bisan perdi ako to sang una at least may balik naman halin sa gobyerno, so, nagapasalamat gid ako sa gobyerno kay gintalupangod naman amon losses kay daw ginbayaran man gali kami kag natalupangdan man ang amon nga problema. Okay man siya [President Marcos Jr.] kay siling ya sang una tag P20 na lang ang kilo sang bugas, so gina-amat-amat ya na fulfill,” Tribunsay said.
(Even if I’m losing before, at least now, here is the government helping us. So, we thank the government that we are given attention and our problem is given solution. It is like our losses were paid up by the government. President Marcos said before that rice will be at P20/kg, this is an initial fulfillment of that promise.)
Meanwhile, DTI-6 OIC regional director Ermelinda Pollentes clarified that there is no directive yet coming from the central office if there is another batch of payout, but stressed that DTI-6 will continue to monitor the markets.
“I hope this is a big help nga makabulig sa inyo. Bal-an namon nga naperdi man kamo pero intindihon ta lang and collaborate lang sa gobyerno kay gusto man sang gobyerno nga mabuligan kamo,” Pollentes added.
(I hope this is a big help to you. We know that you lost before but please understand that the government tries to help you.)
DSWD-6 regional director Atty. Carmelo Nochete, on the other hand, reminded beneficiaries to use the cash assistance properly and hoped that they are happy with the aid they got from the government.
“Tani they are all very happy, kay ang aton gobyerno ara gid nga magabulig sa ila, especially sa tion sang pamigado. Amu gid man na papel sang gobyerno ta, especially sang DSWD,” Nochete said, hoping that the rice retailers can now feel a sigh of relief – a sign that they are now not worried and frightened by all the possible impacts of the price cap as the government is there to assist them and to provide win-win solutions to all affected sectors.
(I hope that they are happy because our government ensures help is available especially during hard times. This is the role of our government, especially of DSWD.) (AAL/JNH/PIA6 Iloilo)
