DSWD's Gatchalian floats possibility of increasing P15K aid for rice retailers

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Saturday said the P15,000 financial assistance for qualified rice retailers affected by the price cap on regular and well-milled rice varieties could be increased.

“Nakausap natin ang Pangulo. Inatasan niya ang DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) at DSWD na mag-calibrate pa para masiguro na kung kulang pa 'yun, hindi tayo mag-aatubili na mag-adjust at magdagdag pa,” Gatchalian said in an interview on Dobol B sa GTV.

(We got to talk to the President. He instructed the DTI and DSWD to calibrate and check the financial assistance. If it is not enough, it should be increased.)

The DSWD chief said that the agency and the DTI are currently distributing the cash assistance to affected retailers in three cities, namely Caloocan, Quezon City, and San Juan.

“Para sa Pangulo, importante na mapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprises). Alam natin na may sakripisyo sila ngayong mga panahon na ito kaya gusto ng gobyerno na matulungan sila. Alam natin na kahit negosyante sila, maliliit silang negosyante,” Gatchalian said.

(For the President, it is important that the MSMEs be assisted. We know they have made sacrifices during this time so the government wants to help them. We know that although they are traders, they are small traders.)

Small retailers affected by the rice price cap may receive P15,000 financial assistance under the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program. 

On the other hand, the DTI and the Department of Agriculture (DA) will come up with a mechanism and a list of beneficiaries for the aid.

The cash aid was meant to ease the financial burden of small retailers who will be forced to sell their stocks at a loss or much lower than how much they bought their stocks for retail due to the imposition of the P41 per kilo price cap on regular milled rice and P45 per kilo on well-milled rice.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s approval of the price ceiling stemmed from the surge in retail prices of rice in local markets, which ranged from P45 to P70 per kilo.

Marcos said Monday that the mandatory price ceiling on rice would only be temporary. He also said the government has a plan for rice retailers who would be adversely affected by the price ceiling.

The price ceiling on rice took effect on Tuesday, September 5. —KG, GMA Integrated News