TACLOBAN CITY -- In an effort to provide crucial support to micro rice retailers affected by the recent price ceiling on rice, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VIII (DSWD FO VIII) has disbursed P15,000 cash grants each to 712 rice retailers in Eastern Visayas this week.

Of this number, 12 rice retailers are from Biliran, 433 from Leyte, 27 from Southern Leyte, 91 from Samar, 135 from Northern Samar, and 14 from Eastern Samar.

The distribution of the cash grants is a proactive response to Executive Order No. 39, series of 2023, issued by the Office of the President.

This executive order imposed a price ceiling on rice to mitigate the impact of rising food prices on consumers.

The qualified beneficiaries were derived from the Certified List of Affected Rice Retailers submitted by the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office VIII to DSWD FO VIII endorsed for the provision of Sustainable Livelihood Program – Emergency Relief Subsidy (SLP-ERS).

SLP-ERS aims to provide financial relief to micro rice retailers who have faced economic challenges due to the price ceiling. It will help them continue their operations and maintain stable and affordable rice prices for the communities they serve.

As per EO 39, the current price cap is at P41 for regular milled rice and P45 for well-milled rice. (DSWD FO VIII)