Manila LGU, DTI provide financial assistance to 192 rice retailers

The city government of Manila and the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) distributed financial aid to 192 rice retailers.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan led the distribution at San Andres Complex in Manila on Thursday, Sept. 14.
The mayor was accompanied by DTI Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro Uvero and Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto.
The city government said this is the first batch of payout for rice sellers in Manila.
It said 137 rice retailers from 16 public markets received cash aid worth P15,000 each, while 55 vendors from two private markets received P5,000 each.
In her address, Mayor Honey said she seeks to address the resentments of rice retailers regarding Executive Order 39, which mandates that starting Sept. 5, the regular-milled rice is priced at P41 per kilogram and the well-milled rice at P45 per kilogram.
"Sana po kahit papaano, makatulong po ito sa inyong makabawi kahit ngayon man lamang po (I hope somehow, this will help you recover)," she said.
"Nagpapasalamat po kami sa inyong pang-unawa at sakripisyo. Alam po namin na mabilisan po iyong pag-implement ng EO 39 at marami sa inyo ang naapektuhan at nalugi kaya naman po nagbigay po ng agarang solusyon at ayuda ang pamahalang Bongbong Marcos ( "We thank you for your understanding and sacrifice. We know that the EO 39 was immediately implemented and many of you were affected and lost revenues that's why the Bongbong Marcos administration provided an immediate solution and aid)," Uvero said.
Meanwhile, the city government said it will continue monitoring the implementation of EO 39 among rice vendors in the city.