BALANGA CITY (PIA) -- A total of 550 sari-sari store owners and micro rice retailers in Bataan each received P15,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as part of the second wave of payouts.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) - Cash Assistance for Micro Rice Retailers aims to alleviate the losses incurred by retailers who purchased their rice supplies at higher prices before the implementation of Executive Order No. 39, which imposed a price cap on regular milled and well-milled rice.

DSWD SLP Provincial Coordinator Ricky Gacayan said the agency released P570,000 during the initial payout, which covered a total of 38 micro rice retailers.

“This initiative serves as a temporary government response to address the current high rice prices and to guarantee rice availability and affordability for the public,” he added.

For her part, Department of Trade and Industry OIC-Provincial Director Eileen Ocampo said the financial aid hopes to ease the burden of rice retailers who complied with the price cap despite the fact that the current inventories were purchased at a much higher price.

She urged the beneficiaries to make the most of what they received from the government and be an inspiration to others by managing their businesses well.

Meanwhile, 46-year-old rice retailer Freddie Caranzo expressed his gratitude to the government for the help that he received which could go a long way in keeping his business afloat despite some challenges.

Likewise, young entrepreneur Jonrey Juanta said the assistance he received would be used to buy additional stocks for his newly established rice retail business.

In total, 588 individuals received the aid in the province. (CLJD/RPQ-PIA 3)