The Pasay city government distributed financial assistance to 56 rice retailers affected by the imposition of price cap on regular and well-milled rice on Thursday, Sept. 14.
Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said the city government conducted a rigid screening of the 56 beneficiaries to avoid giving the P15,000 aid from the national government to unqualified recipients.
The city government assessed their business permits (issued by the Business Permit and Licensing Office), along with proof and inventory of imported regular and well-milled rice. The beneficiaries need to also pass the validation process conducted by the rice monitoring team to check that they are selling rice at P41 and P45 per kilo.
Aside from the P15,000 subsidy from the national government, they were also given additional P5,000, food, and grocery packs from the city government.
The mayor added that the rice retailers will also be included in the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Displaced/Disadvantage (TUPAD) program of the city government.
Rubiano said those who will be qualified for the TUPAD program will receive P6,000 after finishing their 10-day duty tour in the community.
She said they may also qualify to the livelihood and skills training programs offered by the city government.