The necessity to provide an immediate relief to the affected rice retailers of the implemented EO 39, the City Government of Valenzuela led by Mayor WES Gatchalian through the City Council grants rental subsidies through financial assistance to some 200 qualified rice retailers in the City, September 14. 

A week after implementing the EO 39 or the Imposition of Mandated Price Ceilings on Rice to all public and private markets and supermarkets, setting the price to PhP 41 and PhP 45 to regular milled and well-milled rice respectively, the City Government of Valenzuela recognizes the difficulty of the Valenzuelano small rice retailers in coping with the incurred losses due to the national policy. 

With this, Mayor WES through the City Council approved an ordinance that grants rental subsidies to qualified rice retailers. Enacted on September 11, Ordinance No. 1121, Series of 2023 states that a total amount of PhP 15,000 or PhP 5,000 monthly shall be provided to the qualified recipients covering the retailers’ three months rental starting from October, November, and December. 

These two hundred (200) qualified beneficiaries are identified through joint inspection by the Local Price Coordinating Council and covers only all the small-time rice retailers specifically selling regular rice and well-milled rice in wet markets, public markets and other areas accessible to the public excluding supermarkets, hypermarkets, and convenience stores. 

During the payout, Mayor WES conveyed his utmost appreciation to the rice retailers who undoubtedly followed the executive order, “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa kooperasyon ninyo… sa impormasyon na nakuha namin. Ang layunin po ng ating butihing Pangulo ay hindi naman po sana para maapektuhan ang vendors natin, kundi habulin ang mga hoarders at traders na itinago na iyong stocks nila.” [I am grateful for your cooperation... in the information we have gathered. The purpose of our good President is not to affect our vendors, but to chase down hoarders and traders who have kept their stocks.]

Meanwhile, this financial assistance from the city government will be an additional aid to the small rice retailers as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also started to grant subsidies in the form of PhP 15,000 under its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to a total of 136 Valenzuelano rice retailers held yesterday, September 13 at Marulas Public Market. Leading the payout, DSWD Secretary REX Gacthalian personally attended the event together with DSWD Regional Director Pinky Romualdez, and Assistant Secretary Uly Aguilar. SLP beneficiaries, on the other hand, were identified by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture (DA). 

With all the challenges faced by the rice retailers,  Mayor WES and the City Government ensures to address the needs of every Pamilyang Valenzuelano while empowering the community through direct participation in the National Policy. 

Gracing the payout were Mayor WES Gatchalian, Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad Borja alongside Chairman of Committee on Market and Slaughterhouse Councilor Ghogho Deato Lee, BPLO Head Atty. Ulysses Gallego, LEDIPO Head Ms. Annaliza Vitug, City Agriculture Office Head Dr. Basil Sison, and DILG Valenzuela Director Sudi Valencia.

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