After a week of waiting, small rice retailers in Central Visayas will receive today the P15,000 cash assistance to be distributed in the different public markets, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

DTI's Trade Industry Development specialist of the Consumer Protection Division chief Ines Cajegas announced that the main payout center in Cebu will be at the Carbon Public Market in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

She added that two additional distribution centers in Cebu province will be established in Consolacion Public Market in northern Cebu and Minglanilla Public Market in southern Cebu.

The payout day will have simultaneous distributions in Tagbilaran City Public Market in Bohol, Dumaguete City Public Market in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Public Market in Siquijor.

Cajegas said only 105 of the 353 profiled retailers met the criteria for the Sustainable Livelihood Program which is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

She also cited small-scale farmers in 13 towns and cities in Cebu province have been profiled in adherence to Executive Order 39 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

To recall, the EO 39 mandates price ceiling for regular milled rice at P41 per kilogram and well-milled rice at P45 per kilogram.

Cajegas revealed that they have profiled 93 retailers in Cebu, 70 retailers in Bohol, 148 retailers in Negros Oriental and 42 retailers in Siquijor, or a total of 353 retailers but only 105 passed the set criteria to qualify for the assistance.

She added that in Cebu alone — which has 53 LGUs — profiled retailers are from the cities of Cebu, Danao and Bogo, and in the towns of Minglanilla, Consolacion, Moalboal, Compostela, Carmen, Liloan, Sogod, Tabogon, Borbon and Catmon.

The qualifications set for the assistance are retailers should have business permit or are registered under DTI as sole proprietor or under the Securities and Exchange Commission and they must have a stall in the market.