ZAMBOANGA CITY – Eleven rice retailers here each received P15,000 aid from the government on Thursday, September 14.
It compensates their losses in the implementation of Executive Order 39 that placed a price cap on regular and well-milled rice.
The financial assistance under the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Cash Assistance for Micro Rice Retailers Project was funded through the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Seventeen rice retailers were initially recommended as beneficiaries by the Department of Trade and Industry based on initial profiling but only 11 passed the final screening.
Beneficiaries were from the public market in Magay and the Santa Cruz Public Market.
The DTI is continuing the profiling of other rice retailers here for the succeeding distribution of financial assistance.
Dave Oliver Lao, a rice retailer, thanked the government for assisting businessmen who decided to follow and implement the executive order despite their financial losses.
These rice retailers reportedly suffered losses after selling regular and well-milled rice at the P41 and P45 price ceilings set by the government under EO 39.
They reportedly bought their stocks above the mandated price ceilings after prices of rice soared last month.
EO 39 was issued by President Marcos based on recommendations set by the Department of Agriculture to set price ceilings in the sale of rice due to soaring prices.
The distribution was witnessed by DA-9 Regional Project Coordinator Hja. Nursida Taraji Sarahil, DA-9 Regional Director for Operation Marissa Mohammad, DTI-9 Regional Director Alzamir Lipae, DTI-9 Provincial Director Grace Aduca, DILG-9 City Director Ginagene Vaño-Uy, and Zamboanga City Administrator Wendell Sotto.