ILOILO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6 has started distributing aid totaling P14.5 million to 967 more micro rice retailers in Western Visayas affected by the price cap.
“We are glad that we are able to help more small rice retailers this time. We believe that, in a way, we are helping them cope up with the current situation,” said DSWD-6 Director Carmelo N. Nochete.
Nochete said these rice retailers were identified and profiled by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-6.
May Rago-Castillo, DSWD-6 chief information officer, said the distribution started on Thursday, September 21.
The distribution of aid to micro rice retailers is part of the government program to ease the impact of the rice price ceiling ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
These rice retailers are from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental as well as the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
The DSWD-6 had earlier released assistance totaling P3.76 million to 251 micro rice retailers in the region affected by the price cap.