The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Thursday reported that micro retailers affected by the rice price cap in Iloilo City and Negros Occidental received their Sustainable Livelihood Program cash assistance on Wednesday, 13 September.

The DSWD, through its Field Office Western Visayas (FO VI), disbursed a total of P720,000 subsidy to small business owners to help them cope with the losses due to the imposition of the price caps on rice.

"This is only the first batch of releases. DSWD and DTI are working together to ensure that micro retailers are provided the aid that they need. We are doing everything to help them as fast as we could," DSWD Western Visayas Regional Director Atty. Carmelo N. Nochete assured the beneficiaries.

Present during the payout in Iloilo City were Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Ermelinda Pollentes, Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia, Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, and DSWD SLP-ERS Focal Person Mary Ann Masculino.

Meanwhile, the payout in Negros Occidental was attended by DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations Arwin Razo, along with DTI Assistant Regional Director Rachel Nufable, DA Assistant Regional Director Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo, and Bacolod City Administrator Atty. Pacifico Maghari III.