"These beneficiaries provincewide have been monitored on the ground and are indeed selling regular milled rice at P41.00 per kilo and well-milled rice at P45.00 each kilo in the market," said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office Consumer Protection Unit head Merian Asas.

The rice price ceiling is stipulated in the Executive Order No. 39 issued by Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. that took effect Sept. 5 nationwide.

The new batch of subsidy under Sustainable Livelihood Program-Economic Relief Subsidy from the province composed the 967 additional rice retailers in the region based on records from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 6.

“We are glad that we are able to help more small rice retailers this time. We believe that, in a way, we are helping them cope up with the current situation,” said DSWD 6 regional director lawyer Carmelo N. Nochete.

Last Sept. 14, each of the 29 micro rice retailers also received P15,000.00 from the DSWD during the payout distribution at the Paseo Del Rio in this province. (AGP/AAL/PIA Capiz)