Photo: (Left) DSWD, DTI, and Provincial Government of Albay ceremonially award the cash assistance to the first Albay recipient. (Right) DSWD personnel distribute Php 15,000 in cash to micro rice retailers.

BICOL – Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Trade and Industry of Bicol Region distributed cash assistance to micro rice retailers in the 6 provinces of the region.

DSWD Bicol together with DTI began the simultaneous distribution of cash assistance under the Sustainable Livelihood Program-Cash Assistance for Micro Rice Retailers on September 13, 2023 for the micro rice retailers of the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, and Camarines Sur. The provinces of Masbate, Catanduanes, and Camarines Norte were simultaneously served by the program on September 14, 2023. Those who were listed but were not able to receive their cash assistance due to incomplete requirements were served by the program on September 15, 2023.

In three days, the Sustainable Livelihood Program-Cash Assistance for Micro Retailers distributed cash aid to 473 micro rice retailers identified by DTI and were endorsed to DSWD for distribution of assistance. The program released Php 7,095,000.00 of cash aid; micro rice retailers each received Php 15,000.00 cash aid to cushion the blow that they sustained due to the effectivity of Executive Order No. 39.

EO39, which was made effective September 5, introduced price controls for regular milled rice and well-milled rice, the former having a price ceiling of Php 41 per kilo and the latter Php 45 per kilo.