NAGA CITY (PIA) – A total of 578 pilot targets of rice retailers in the Bicol region will be recipients of a cash subsidy worth P15,000 each from the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development Sustainable Livelihood Program in aid to any effects brought by the implementation of the Executive Order 39.
Earl Maximillan A. Cecilio, Sustainable Livelihood Program Coordinator of DSWD Bicol, disclosed that 154 rice retailers from Albay, 50 from Camarines Norte, 67 from Camarines Sur, 35 from Catanduanes, 83 from Masbate, and 189 from Sorsogon are expected to receive cash assistance.
According to Cecilio, the one-time direct cash aid is a government initiative aimed at mitigating the impact and preventing financial losses resulting from the price ceilings set by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. As of September 5, 2023, the price ceilings for rice have been set at P45 per kilo for well-milled rice and P41 per kilo for regular-milled rice.
In Camarines Sur, 67 rice retailers were identified as recipients for the cash aid in relief of EO 39. Photo by DA Bicol Facebook Page
He said that they are anticipating an additional number of rice retailers for the region in the future, based on the expansion of the beneficiaries validated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Cecilio also appealed to the public to give this assistance a chance to ease the affected sector. Nevertheless, there will be further evaluation and enhancement to this assistance to become more effective and beneficial to the rice industry.
The DSWD will oversee the monitoring of these payouts within a week to verify proof of purchases, ensuring that the provided financial aid is utilized effectively to subsidize their businesses.
Junie Mora, consumer protection division chief of DTI Camarines Sur, said that the rolling of cash grantees includes sole rice retailers certified by the agency with the coordination of local government units. Majority of them come from mega markets in Naga City, Iriga City, as well as towns of Pili and Goa. She said that with additional manpower in the province, more rice retailers may be added to the succeeding profiling and payout schedule.
Officials from DA, DTI, PNP, DILG and DSWD in Camarines Sur, together with rice retailers pose for a picture during the cash aid distribution on September 13 at Robinsons Place Naga. Photo by DA Facebook Page
Lovella Guarin, Public Information Officer of the Department of Agriculture Bicol, also cleared out that there will be bulk rice harvests in the coming weeks. “A total of 76,000 metric tons of rice will be harvested in September, and 56,000 metric tons in October, according to the Philippine Rice Information System Satellite Database,” she said. Aside from ongoing deployment of teams to inspect warehouses to address hoarding of goods in the region, the department also continues to provide subsidies for pre-hybrid rice and fertilizer discount vouchers worth P4000 per hectare per accredited farmer or merchant. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)
