The city governments of Las Piñas and Taguig have started distributing cash assistance to rice retailers affected by the mandatory rice price ceilings in public markets.
Mayor Imelda Aguilar has distributed P15,000 in cash assistance to 139 beneficiaries in Las Piñas in response to rising rice prices. She said the City Agriculture Office and the City Social Welfare and Development Office are working on a more comprehensive plan to support local rice traders and vendors.
The cash assistance aims to provide immediate relief to these small businesses, empowering them to continue operations and contribute to stabilizing the rice supply in the community.
In Taguig, Mayor Laarni Cayetano attended and supervised the first day of cash distribution to 15 micro rice retailers in Embo barangays.
She said apart from local programs, her administration will support measures of the national government to sustain progress in the community.
“We are ready to unite and help the national government so that we can reach out to those who are in need,” said Cayetano.
The cash payouts, amounting to P15,000, are in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to assist rice retailers most affected by Executive Order No. 39, which temporarily imposed a rice price ceiling.
EO 39 sets regular milled rice prices at P41 per kilo and well-milled rice at P45 per kilo.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has initiated the distribution of P15,000 aid to qualified rice traders in Metro Manila.
Mayors in Metro Manila also provided financial aid, free marketplace rent, and livelihood assistance to rice retailers.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is assisting local government units to monitor the prices of rice in public markets in support of the implementation of EO 39.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. earlier urged the Metro Manila Councilors League to pass an ordinance to assist rice retailers with the capital loss that they may have incurred.
Mandaluyong City is one of the first local government units that passed an ordinance to help rice retailers suspend the assessment and collection of market stall fees from rice retailers in Mandaluyong Public Markets 1 and 2 from September 5, 2023, to October 5, 2023.