Department of Social Welfare and Development target to distribute P15-K financial assistance to qualified rice retailers affected by the price cap on regular and well-milled rice varieties this week.
DTI Assistant Secretary Agaton Uvero said the DTI is currently validating the list of small rice retailers eligible to receive cash aid.
He said, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will start distributing financial assistance before the weekend or before the end of the current week.
To recall, DSWD Secretary Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that small retailers affected by the rice price cap can receive P15,000 financial assistance under the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program.
On the other hand, the DTI and Department of Agriculture (DA) will create a mechanism and list of beneficiaries for the aid.
Uvero said the DTI will validate whether the retailers actually sold their rice stocks for less than what they bought their stocks for retail amid the government-mandated price ceiling in regular and well-milled rice varieties.
The approval of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the price ceiling was rooted in the increase in the retail price of rice in local markets, which ranged from P45 to P70 per kilo.
