ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--Seven micro rice retailers in Iligan City have been granted much-needed assistance worth P15,000 each through the Sustainable Livelihood Program-Economic Relief Subsidy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
This financial aid is in response to the challenges faced by these retailers due to the implementation of Executive Order Number 39 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which imposed a price ceiling on rice. The order set the price at 41 pesos per kilo for regular milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) identified the recipients out of 26 stores that adhered to the EO 39 implementation from September 5 to 8.
"Subsidy ni siya para sa ginansya nga nawala sa mga rice retailers at P15,000. Higayon pod ni og magpasalamat ko nila nga nisunod sa mando kay mao pud ni ang ilang tabang sa atong mga kababayan, kapwa Pilipino [This P15,000 subsidy serves as much-needed relief for the rice retailers who suffered financial losses. It is also an opportunity to express our gratitude to them for their compliance with the government's mandate, as their support contributes to the well-being of our fellow Filipinos]," said Ronald Ryan Cui, assistant director for operations of DSWD-10.
Asliah M. Omat, a micro rice retailer at Tambo Public Market, expressed her gratitude as she received a subsidy of P15,000 to help with the losses in her business.
Meanwhile, Leonila Zorilla, another rice retailer, shared her happiness at receiving the subsidy from DSWD.
"I’m so happy na nakadawat ko og subsidy from DSWD sa atong presidente nga si BongBong Marcos nga grabe aksyon niya pagkahibalo nga taas na kaayo ang presyo sa bugas. Pasalamat gyud ko ug dako nga kani makatabang ni sa amoang pagka alkansi [I'm so happy that I received a subsidy from DSWD and from our president, Bongbong Marcos. His swift action upon learning of the skyrocketing rice prices is greatly appreciated. I am truly thankful because this will greatly help alleviate our losses]," she said.
To ensure equitable pricing of rice, the Department of Trade and Industry and the City Agriculture Office carry out daily surveillance of rice prices within the city. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
