Thirty-seven Bacolod and Negros Occidental retailers received P15,000 each in government subsidy on Wednesday, September 13 to help them cope with the impact of the price cap on regular and well-milled rice.
Retailers with licenses issued by the Business Permits and Licensing Office and are selling regular milled and well-milled rice within the price ceiling are entitled to receive the subsidy, Reginald Hudierez, Consumer Protection Unit head of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental, said.
Under EO No. 39 which took effect September 5, the price cap for regular milled rice is P41 per kilo, and P45 per kilo for well milled rice.
The DTI identifies the qualified beneficiaries for the one time payout to the retailers and the funds come from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
There are 1,241 registered rice retailers in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, Lynna Joy Cardinal, DTI provincial director, said on Monday.
More retailers in the province who qualify will also receive subsidies, Hudierez said.
Albert Barrogo, Department of Agriculture assistant regional director, said Negros Occidental retailers compliance with the rice price ceiling is low and he hopes this changes so more retailers can be given subsidies.
The DTI and DA is continuing to monitor the selling prices of rice in Negros Occidental, he said.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections has approved the DSWD request to allow the nationwide release of cash assistance to rice retailers amid the spending ban during the election period.*