ILOILO CITY (PIA) – Over a hundred small rice retailers from Western Visayas expressed gratitude to the government for the aid provided following the implementation of the price cap on rice across the country.

Yesterday, September 14, a series of payout schedules were held in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras distributing the one-time cash assistance worth P15,000 each under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Sustainable Livelihood Program - Economic Relief Subsidy (SLP-ERS) program.

In the province of Capiz, each of the 29 licensed small rice retailers, mostly from the city, received cash assistance, with the payout distribution held at the Paseo Del Rio in Roxas City.

There were 29 licensed small rice retailers who served as the primary beneficiaries of the cash support from the government.

"Our heartfelt thanks to the national government especially to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for the cash assistance which will help us defray our losses in complying with his Executive Order No. 39," said Roxas City Cereals Association (RCCA) president Edilberto Cambe in Hiligaynon (local dialect).

The RCCA, a retailer's group based at the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center in the said province, was also among the first in the region to publicly announce compliance with the mandatory imposition of a rice price cap after a series of consultations and dialogue initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department Agriculture, and Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC).

Cambe also noted that the price of rice in the market will eventually go down with the onset of harvest season in the province.

"Even if the price ceiling is lifted, the price of rice will go down at the height of the harvest season. It may be even lower than P41.00 and P45.00 as long as sufficient rice supply will be locally available," he added.

Moreover, 30 small-time rice retailers in the island province’s five towns, who were affected by the rice price cap, got the financial grant during the payout held at the Provincial Capitol Covered Gym in Jordan, Guimaras.

“Bangud sa ginpanubo ang presyo sang bugas biskan mahal amon nga ginbakal pero nagbulig ang gobyerno para mabawi amon nga kapital (Due to the decreased price of rice despite buying it at a high price, the government has helped us to regain our capital fund),” said Rodnie Bandiola, a rice retailer from Jordan town, acknowledging the said aid.

Another beneficiary, 71- year-old Nelly Gonzaga who has been with the business since 1990, conveyed her gratitude for this initiative of the government.

“Ginapasalamatan ko ang DSWD nga naghatag sa amon sang pinansyal bilang bulig nila sa amon sa mga napierde namon nga (mga bugas) nga ginbaligya namon kag kun may sobra idugang namon ini sa kapital (I thanked the DSWD for this assistance that helped us against the impact of the losses. The remaining extra will be used for our capital),” Gonzaga shared.

Meanwhile, 29 small rice retailers from Aklan, covering the towns of Lezo, Numancia, Kalibo, Batan, and Altavas, served as the initial recipients of the same cash assistance in the province.

Meanwhile, for the province of Antique, the distribution of cash support was held at the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office Conference Room, Funda-Dalipe in San Jose, Antique. 

A total of 20 rice retailers in the province comprised the first batch of beneficiaries for the said assistance, each receiving P15,000.

Gina Coronica, a rice retailer from San Jose Tradetown, who is one of the first beneficiaries to receive a cash subsidy, expressed her gratitude to the government for the help she got, noting that “this could go a long way” in putting her business afloat despite the challenge of imposing the rice price cap.

Likewise, a young entrepreneur Jan Luden Espinosa said that the assistance he received would be used to buy additional stocks for his newly established rice retailing business.

For the part of Edilberto Jabile, Grains Retailer Confederation – Antique Chapter president, expressed optimism that other rice retailers could get the subsidy, as they too are affected by EO 39.To note, all of these rice retailers that were identified by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) underwent profiling and verification prior to the payout.

It can also be recalled that on Wednesday, September 13, some 48 small rice retailers also from Iloilo and Negros Occidental received the said cash grant during the launching of the payout in the region.

Meanwhile, as said agencies are still conducting monitoring and profiling of beneficiaries in the rest of the towns in the region, the DSWD noted that another set of cash distributions will be scheduled soon.

For inquiries regarding the program, the public may reach the DSWD 6 at (033) 330-7860 or email at fo6@dswd.gov.ph. (AAL/AGP/ PIA 6)