The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 6 (Western Visayas) is ready to release a P3.75-million aid to an initial 250 small rice retailers affected by the price ceiling in the region.

“We are fast-tracking the processing of the subsidy so that the micro rice retailers will get the aid as soon as possible,” lawyer Carmelo Nochete, DSWD Regional Director, said in a statement on Monday, September 11.

Each retailer is entitled to a P15,000 one-time assistance under the Sustainable Livelihood Program-Economic Relief Subsidy to help them cope with their losses amid the price cap for regular and well-milled rice.

The price ceiling is mandated by Executive Order 39 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last August 31.

The subsidies will be released once the list from the Department of Trade and Industry central office is available.

Last week, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. said the province could not extend support to the affected retailers because it is not in the provincial government budget.

He said a possible source could be the calamity fund, but there has to be a declaration of a state of calamity. (PNA)