QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- “A total of 26,266 micro-retailers and sari-sari store owners benefitted from the SLP receiving a total of Php393.9 million in cash aid which started on September 9,” Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Gatchalian said Monday.

The cash aid for micro-retailers and sari-sari store owners under the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) was terminated on a strong note on Friday (October 20).

The DSWD’s provision of cash aid under the SLP was in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to assist small-scale business owners who were directly affected by the issuance of Executive Order No. 39 on August 31, which imposed price ceilings on well-milled and regular-milled rice.

“Under the DSWD’s SLP cash aid program, sari-sari store owners and micro-rice retailers received cash subsidy of Php15,000 each to help buttress their losses due to the price cap,” Asst. Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said.

The target beneficiaries, who were first validated, certified, and authorized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), totaled 35, 302 micro-rice retailers and sari-sari store owners, Asst. Sec Lopez, who is also DSWD spokesperson, pointed out.

“Of the qualified beneficiaries, some 8,873 micro-retailers and sari-sari store owners did not show up to claim the livelihood grants while 163 intended beneficiaries were disqualified due to issues on supporting documents,” the DSWD spokesperson explained.

The DSWD expressed optimism that the small-scale business owners can now slowly return to their normal situation with the lifting of EO 39 and with rice prices already stabilizing.  (dswd/pia-ncr)