LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) – Another batch of rice retailers in Albay, including sellers in sari-sari stores, are poised to receive the P15,000 cash subsidy.
Noel Bunao, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial director for Albay, said the DTI has begun profiling rice retailers who will compose the second batch of recipients of the financial assistance.
“As of now we have 177 retailers and are still counting,” Bunao said.
He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed the cash assistance to the first batch of 124 micro rice retailers from the public markets in the province.
“The remaining sellers and those from the sari-sari stores will be included in the second batch,” Bunao said.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Director Norman Laurio (in red) leads the distribution of P15,000 cash subsidy to 124 micro rice retailers in the province of Albay, September 13, 2023. The 124 have been affected by the imposition of price ceiling on regular-milled rice and well-milled rice. Also in photo are the regional and provincial heads of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Interior and Local Government (Photo by DTI Albay)
Bunao said the 30 sellers who failed to receive the subsidy during the first batch of release due to incomplete compliance to the government’s requirements will be included in the second batch.
“To qualify for the assistance, the sellers must be micro entrepreneurs selling regular-milled rice at P41 and well-milled at P45. They must be certified by the Business Permit and Licensing Office in their locality,” Bunao said.
“If not registered, they must be certified by their barangays as rice sellers,” he added.
A rice retailer is considered as a micro-entrepreneur if the business employs nine people or fewer.
The DTI Albay also validates the sellers' compliance with the guidelines.
“From our monitoring, those who received cash assistance are already in compliance with the price cap,” Bunao said.
After being profiled by the Department of Trade and Industry, qualified rice retailers in Albay province receive the one-time P15,000 cash assistance for sellers affected by the imposition of price ceiling on regular-milled and well-milled rice. (Photo by DTI Albay)
Assistance from local government
The provincial government of Albay also pledged to extend support to Albayano retailers affected by the price ceiling on regular-milled and well-milled rice.
During the Albay Price Coordination Council conference, Governor Edcel Lagman said he ordered strict compliance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s EO 39, noting the penalty for rice manipulation and/or profiteering.
“I understand that being a micro rice retailer is not an easy task, especially when you are confronted with the fluctuating prices and market dynamics that affect your livelihood,” Lagman said.
“Your resilience and determination to provide a vital service to our community have not gone unnoticed.”
The governor encouraged rice retailers to continue to work with the government, share their insights, and collaborate with government agencies as the whole nation navigates through these tough times.
On the other hand, Department of the Interior and Local Government - Albay Program Manager Coniefer Codia said the local government units can pass an ordinance to help rice dealers and sellers in their areas.
Codia said these may include the giving of discounts or suspension of market stall rentals to offset their losses. (PIA5/Albay)
