MANILA – Cash grants will be distributed on Monday, September 11, in Metro Manila and Zamboanga del Sur as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s efforts to assist small rice retailers affected by the nationwide implementation of rice price ceilings.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that the distribution of P15,000 cash grants to affected rice retailers will take place in Pateros municipality and the cities of Navotas, Parañaque, and Zamboanga del Sur.
According to DSWD, 337 beneficiaries identified by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will receive the cash aid on Monday. This includes 15 rice retailers in Pateros, 161 in Navotas, 129 in Parañaque, and 32 in Zamboanga del Sur.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will assist in notifying the identified beneficiaries in Pateros, Navotas, and Parañaque about President Marcos’s cash grants.
Continuing the government’s cash assistance, DSWD and DTI will meet on Monday to discuss the list of beneficiaries in the rest of the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces, among other measures.
President Marcos recently approved the DTI and DA’s recommendation to implement a PhP41.00 rice price ceiling on regular milled rice and a PhP45.00 rice price cap on well-milled rice nationwide through Executive Order 39, effective September 5.
According to the DA’s monitoring report, 239 retailers in 37 markets in the National Capital Region, or 94 percent of rice retailers in the metropolis, have complied with the mandated price ceilings on rice as of September 9.
Anticipating the effects of the mandated rice price ceilings on small-scale rice retailers, President Marcos directed DSWD to provide PhP15,000 cash assistance through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
Simultaneous cash assistance distribution began on September 9 at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City, led by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Mayor Joy Belmonte, and at the Agora Market in San Juan City, led by DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Mayor Francis Zamora.
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., Congressman Oscar Malapitan, and Mayor Dale Malapitan led the distribution of cash grants at the Maypajo Market in Caloocan City. (PCO)
