To aid small rice retailers affected by Executive Order (EO) No. 39, the Departments of Agriculture, Social Welfare  and Development (DSWD), and Trade and Industry (DTI), together with the local government unit of Quezon City distributed financial assistance at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City on September 9, 2023.

Personnel from DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program facilitated the payout of P15,000 each to more than 405 qualified beneficiaries, as determined by the initial list from the DA and the DTI. The disbursement of the cash assistance is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to assist micro rice retailers in dealing with the impact of the EO.

DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban thanked the retailers for compliance and assured that the Department is working hard to guarantee sufficient and affordable basic needs for Filipinos, at the same time, ensuring the protection of farmers.

The Agriculture department is one of the agencies mandated by the executive issuance to oversee the price ceilings.

Aside from Quezon City, the government also gave cash assistance to beneficiaries in selected public market in Caloocan, Manila, and San Juan.

EO No. 39, which set the price control for regular milled rice at Php 41 per kilo and well-milled rice at Php 45 per kilo, took effect on September 5, 2023. It aims to address rising food costs and impose penalties on individuals involved in hoarding in response to reports of extensive instances of unlawful price manipulation. ### (Ira Y. Cruz, DA-AFID)