DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- Micro rice retailers in Davao City extended their gratitude to the government upon receiving the cash assistance to sustain their businesses amid the implementation of Executive Order No. 39 mandating a price ceiling on rice.

A total of 58 beneficiaries from public markets in Calinan, Mintal, Toril, Bangkerohan, Agdao, and Panacan received P15,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI, together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI, to cushion the effects of the executive order. Meanwhile, some 185 affected micro and small rice retailers across the Davao Region are expected to receive the same cash assistance.

Ulysses Paco, a rice vendor for seven years at Agdao Public Market, expressed his struggle selling rice at regulated prices, as his initial capital for the rice from suppliers was higher.

He said that he would use the cash assistance “to purchase napod og bugas (para) mabawi lang namo gamay tong loss namo (to purchase some rice so to recover a little from the losses.”

Florlito Alaba, the Partnership Officer for DSWD's Sustainable Livelihood Program, stated that the cash subsidy is intended for micro rice retailers who have been impacted by the enforced price ceiling. This initiative is a joint effort between DSWD and DTI, with DTI taking the lead in identifying eligible beneficiaries, while DSWD handles the funding.

Moreover, DTI-XI Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said that the program aims to help those micro-rice retailers whose income is severely affected in compliance with the implementation of EO 39.

She also said that this is a way for the government to make the rice retailers sustain selling rice at P41 for regular milled rice and P45 for well-milled rice.

However, she emphasizes that “this is a temporary measure” only, noting “karong September ang harvest season, so most likely mo-daghan ang supply sa atong bugas nga makapa-ubos sa presyo sa bugas (this September is the harvest season, so most likely the supply of our rice will increase, which will lower the price of rice).”

“Kung wala mo nag-comply, we will impose certain sanctions pweding bawion o tan-won nato unsa nag pama-agi pero ang amo gyung expectation sa inyoha from the beneficiaries is naa gyud mo'y ibaligya nga rice nga P41 and P45 (If you don't comply, we will impose certain sanctions that may be getting back the cash assistance or we will see what happens, but our expectation from the beneficiaries is that you will sell rice at P41 and P45),” she said.

Moreover, Ambi said that there will be additional batches, depending on the results of the monitoring and verification currently being undertaken by the agency.

She stressed that to be eligible for the subsidy, a rice retailer must possess a valid business permit, consistently sell rice within the price range of P41 to P45, and maintain an existing and operational store.

Meanwhile, Gerardo Antonio Castillo, Market Supervisor of Davao City Economic Enterprise Management Office-Local Price Monitoring Coordinating Council, said that they will be one of the agencies that will be monitoring the compliance of the beneficiaries.

will also monitor even if the price of rice goes down, we will also monitor the quality, which should not be compromised, what was sold in the before in its original price is still being sold even if the price is low),” Castillo said.

Earlier, the Special Inter-Agency Task Force on Price and Supply Monitoring and Enforcement (SITF-PSME) for Davao Region visited rice importers' warehouses here to monitor rice supply and prevent hoarding.

Monitoring activities are also being done in the public markets to ensure compliance of rice price cap by retailers and sellers.

Should there be violations of EO 39, consumers can report to DTI XI through Tel. No. 2240511 or email at r11@dti.gov.ph and the nearest DTI provincial offices. Likewise, the public may report to Department of Agriculture XI through Telephone No. 2263625 local 3005 or email at darfoxi.ored@gmail.com. (JBG/ASO/PIA XI)