Nueva Vizcaya's micro rice retailers get subsidy

By Leander C. Domingo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya --  The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has distributed P2.19 million in cash subsidy

    to 146 micro rice retailers who were affected in adherence to Executive Order (EO) 39.

    The EO was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month to place a price cap on rice in an effort to ease off the increasing price of the staple caused by hoarding and manipulation.

    Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Jose Gambito said the micro rice retailers from 11 out of the 15 municipalities in the province received P15,000 each during the second batch of economic relief subsidy distribution in this town.

    Gambito said this is a collaborative effort of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Food Authority (NFA) and the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya.

    Marietta Salviejo, DTI Nueva Vizcaya provincial director, said the distribution of cash aid was conducted under DSWD's Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in collaboration with national and local governments.

    She also encouraged the beneficiaries "to make the most out of the assistance given to them to help their businesses thrive."

    She added that the list of beneficiaries was meticulously compiled from submissions made by business permit and licensing offices in the province.

    "We have thoroughly verified the list together with the DSWD to ensure that those receiving assistance were genuinely affected by the compliance requirements of EO 39," Salviejo said.

    Meanwhile, Gambito also pledged the provincial government's support and assistance "to ensure the success of this initiative" saying that there are various programs and interventions the provincial government has been implementing for the agricultural sector of the province.