IBA, Zambales — A total of 78 micro rice retailers in this province received financial assistance worth P15,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development under the Sustainable Livelihood Program or SLP Cash Assistance for Micro Rice Retailers.

The program is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s thrust to help small businesses affected by Executive Order 39, which created a price ceiling for regular-milled and well-milled rice.

According to DSWD Regional Office III SLP Social Marketing Officer Sanne Ray Soro, the identified beneficiaries were certified and endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry in line with the agency's program.

The beneficiaries underwent verification and were required to present original and photocopies of their government-issued IDs, such as the Philippine Identification Card and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program ID.

The DSWD-SLP will also conduct monitoring to ensure that the beneficiaries used the subsidies properly.

Estelita Gapasin, a 70-year-old retailer from San Narciso, thanked President Marcos for the assistance, saying that it is a big help to rice retailers in alleviating the impact of EO 39.

EO 39 set a price cap of P41 per kilo for regular rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.

DTI Zambales Provincial Director Enrique Tacbad said that EO 39 is not a directive to burden rice retailers, but is rather a solution by the government to prevent the excessive price increase of rice in public markets.

Tacbad clarified that there is no crisis or shortage of rice, and that the program is aimed at the sudden spike in rice prices.

He added that by the end of September to October, the supply of rice is expected to increase, which will lead to a decrease in price.