BANGUED, Abra (PIA) -- Fourteen micro rice retailers here received financial subsidy from the government to defray their losses following the implementation of the rice price cap.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other partners led the pay out of P15,000 cash assistance for local rice retailers at the DSWD-SWAD on September 14.

Victoria Llanes of the DSWD explained that the financial subsidy aims to help rice retailers who bought their rice supply at a higher price before the effectivity of the rice price ceiling.

“Tapno ma-addressan bassit ti pukawyo gapu ta nagatangyo dagiti supply yo idi nanginngina ti presyo,” she said.

Llanes also shared the eligibility requirements of the program, the process of the payout, and answered queries raised by the beneficiaries.

During the initial payout, DTI-Abra OIC Provincial Director Marvin Arcangel said that monitoring will continue among rice retailers to ensure compliance to the rice price cap and identify possible issues that may arise during the implementation of EO 39.

“Daytoy awatenyo nga subsidy ket maited kanyayo because we were able to validate nga adda ti P41 and P45 idi monitoring idi immay ti DTI,” he explained.

Rolly Valera, a rice retailer from Bangued, is thankful for the government’s financial aid that he can use as additional budget to buy rice supply.

“Thank you. Dakkel nga tulong daytoy kanyami kasi talaga adda losses mi idiay P41 ken P45 nga presyo. Usarek daytoy nga pangsupusop ko iti panaggatang metlaeng ti bagas,” he said.

The DTI with the DILG and the DSWD are    preparing for the payout of rice retailers in other municipalities of the province. (JJPM-PIA  CAR, Abra)