By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Owners of sari-sari stores compliant with the mandatory price ceiling of P45 per kilo of rice are included in the third batch of financial assistance beneficiaries.

Reginald Hudierez, consumer protection section head of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental, said 335 rice retailers will each receive financial assistance of P15,000 today.

DTI-NegOcc said the majority of beneficiaries in this batch came from Bacolod City, with 42 store owners.

The distribution will be conducted at three venues to accommodate beneficiaries without the need for travel.

Hudierez said beneficiaries from northern Negros will receive their financial assistance in Escalante City.

Eligible retailers in central Negros will be getting their aid in Bacolod City, and those in southern Negros will have their venue in Kabankalan City.

He also stated that recipients in the first and second assistance distribution have continued adhering to the price cap.

Post-monitoring will continue until the mandatory price ceiling is fully implemented.

Previously, 200 beneficiaries in the second batch each received a P15,000 cash aid at the Bacolod City Government Center on September 21./DGB, WDJ