The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that it successfully finished two rounds of the government's cash aid distribution to 257 rice retailers in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.
DTI, along with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said the second round was held last Tuesday, Sept. 12, to micro rice retailers in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte following the first round of distribution on Monday.
The second round generated a 100 percent turnout rate from 171 rice retailers who were given the same P15,000 in cash assistance.
On Sept. 11, the first batch of distribution was held in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, where DTI and DSWD were able to administer all listed 86 beneficiaries with P15,000 each, generating a hundred percent turnout rate.
In her message, Region 9 Assistant Director Maridel Dengal emphasized that, "DTI is committed to supporting the national government in helping affected micro rice retailers following the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. As ordered by Secretary Pascual, our teams are working hard on a day-to-day basis to efficiently distribute assistance to all beneficiaries."
The beneficiaries of the cash aid are those retailers who own business licenses or permits issued by the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and those actively engaged in the sale of RMR and WMR at the time of surveillance or monitoring.
Further, retailers registered under the DTI as sole proprietors or under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as partnerships or corporations actively engaged in the sale or offering of RMR and WMR rice during the surveillance or monitoring were also included.(Ma. Joselie C. Garcia)