SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) led the distribution of cash grant to rice sellers from the towns of San Jose, Mamburao, Sablayan, Calintaan and Sta. Cruz on September 14.

Each rice retailer in the province who complied with Executive Order (EO) No. 39 received a P15,000 relief subsidy.

Ronaldo Meneses from DSWD-Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Mimaropa lauded the government’s grant to aid the retailers in the country. Meneses added that due to the compliance of the rice retailers with the President's order, the citizens will be able to buy cheap rice.

According to a local rice retailer, the livelihood grant is a big help for them to recover their losses caused by following the price cap. He said that they obtained the rice product at a high price, but they are obliged to sell it at P41 per kilo (regular-milled) and P45 per kilo (well-milled) which is set by EO 39. The rice retailer hopes that the approaching harvest season will lower the price of rice.

In the recent Kapihan sa PIA, DTI Provincial Director Noel Flores explained that EO 39 implementation aims to prevent the abnormal increase in the price of rice in the country.

“Ayon sa ating gobyerno, sapat ang suplay ng bigas sa bansa kung kaya’t hindi tama na tumaas ng presyo nito, unless may nagmamanipula,” said Flores.

Flores added that since the regular and well-milled rice are the types of rice commonly consumed by the Filipino masses, these should be ensured to be sold at affordable prices.

In this regard, the official called on the rice retailers who received the grant to continue to help the government and sell rice in accordance with the price cap. He said the DTI will also continue with their monitoring and dissemination of information related to EO 39. 

Citizens may contact these agencies: DTI (889-0712); DA (02) 8927-4350; and Police Regional Office (PRO) Mimaropa (0917) 622 8038. (VND/GATS/PIA MIMAROPA - Occidental Mindoro)