THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) targets to finish the distribution of the P15,000 livelihood assistance to micro rice retailers affected by the current price cap on rice by September 14, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said yesterday.
Gatchalian said the self-imposed deadline is in compliance to President Marcos Jr.’s directive to expedite the payout of the subsidy, which he again reiterated on Tuesday during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang.
“The President instructed us to finish this at the soonest possible time. He likes the idea of finishing it by the 14th, but we told him that we would really want … we have applied for an exemption in the eventuality that there are unforeseen circumstances that will cause some delay,” Gatchalian said in mixed English and Filipino.
He said if they could not reach all beneficiaries, they at least want to finish the payout in all highly urbanized cities and regions before their self-imposed deadline.
The DSWD started the distribution of the cash grant under its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) last Saturday.
Gatchalian said that as of September 11, the DSWD has already distributed P7.5 million worth of assistance to 474 beneficiaries from San Juan City, Caloocan City, Quezon City, Parañaque City, Navotas City, and Zamboanga del Sur.
He said the target beneficiary is around 5,942.
EXEMPTION
Yesterday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) granted exemption to the cash subsidy program of the DSWD for rice retailers affected by the price ceiling implemented by Malacañang.
Based on Memorandum No. 23-05923, Comelec chairman George Garcia approved the recommendation of the Law Department to grant the request of Gatchalian amid the ban on the release of public funds starting September 15 in relation to the BSKE.
“Upon evaluation, we find the request to have sufficiently complied with the requirements of Sections 7 and 10 of Resolution No. 10944. In view of the foregoing, the Law Department recommends the approval of the following supplemental request of Hon. Sec. Rex Gatchalian, DSWD,” said Comelec Law Department director Norina Casingal.
“By virtue of the authority granted upon me under Comelec Resolution No. 10944, promulgated on 09 August 2023, the recommendation of the Law Department is hereby approved,” said Garcia.
It should be noted that under Resolution No. 10944, the Comelec prohibited all social welfare projects implemented by the national, regional, provincial, and local government units from September 15 to October 30, 2023.
Exemptions from making expenses using public funds, however, may be authorized by the Commission upon the submission of a request for exemption.
Violations of the prohibition shall constitute an election offense and will be punishable by imprisonment of one to six years, according to the poll body.
In his “Extremely Urgent Supplemental Request” to the Comelec, Gatchalian sought the exemption for the disbursement of P800 million in public funds.
The DSWD funds to be subjected to the exemption is meant to “provide a one-time, limited financial assistance which will be provided to affected, vulnerable, and at-risk rice retailers to alleviate, if not eliminate, the risks to their survival due to the price freeze and to promote their sustainable livelihood”.
DSWD assistant secretary and spokesman Roel Lopez said the Comelec exemption would enable them to continue not just the distribution of the cash grant to rice retailers but also the implementation of other social and financial relief programs of the department.
“The approval of the DSWD Secretary’s request recognizes the urgency of addressing the economic challenges faced by vulnerable micro-scale rice retailers across the nation,” Lopez said.
Other DSWD programs covered by the exemption include the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, Food Stamp Program (FSP), Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, Oplan Pag-Abot, Project Lawa, Social Pension Program, Centenarian Program, and Supplemental Feeding Program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and the Targeted Cash Transfer Program (TCT).
Also included are the Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUn), Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAPH), Kalahi-CIDSS, Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA Program, Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP), MNLF Transformation Program, Beneficiary First Project, Residential and Non-residential Care Program, Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project, Socio-Economic Program for Normalization of the Commissioned Combatant, and Modified Shelter Assistance Project.
The DSWD is also authorized to continue the psychosocial care and support for persons living with HIV and their affected families; the ongoing disaster relief, early recovery and rehabilitation programs, and provision of programs and services to address the needs of poor, vulnerable, and marginalized Filipinos.
‘SLOW’
Gatchalian said among the reasons for the “slow” distribution of the rice subsidy is the failure or inability of beneficiaries to avail of the grant during the scheduled days in their areas since many of them have to work and man their store to prevent further losses.
Gatchalian said to address this, the distribution is now being done during “off peak hours,” like between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to enable retailers to temporarily leave their stores. The DSWD also plans to allot another day for the distribution of grants.
“We promised that we will go back to areas na may mga hindi nakasipot na mga nasa list so that we can make sure na mabayaran, mabigyan din sila ng livelihood grant (We promised that we will go back to areas where those on the list were unable to attend, so that we can make sure that they will be paid, given the livelihood grant),” he said.
Gatchalian reassured the public that the DSWD still has enough funds in its SLP to cover for the cost of assistance to rice retailers across the country. He said the SLP originally had a budget of P6 billion and there are still around P5.3 that remains unobligated and now being tapped to assist the retailers.
He said the P2 billion pledged by lawmakers to augment the SLP would further raise the budget for the program.
‘GOING WELL’
The President said the implementation of the price cap was “going as well as we can expect”.
In an interview on the sidelines of the presentation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (R.A. No. 11953), Marcos said he understood the concerns of micro and small rice retailers especially if they bought their products at a higher price than the price cap.
“Hindi natin pwedeng sisihin dahil nga hindi sila nakakatiyak nga dun sa ating ibibigay na kapalit… so we are to continue to do that (We cannot blame them because they were unsure of the grant that we will give…so we are to continue to do that),” he said referring to the distribution of cash grant.
Marcos said since the start of the distribution, there were small retailers who initially opted not to sell their high-priced rice, but have started selling the expensive grains after receiving the financial aid.
Executive Order 39 mandated a temporary price cap of P41 per kilo for regular milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.
Asked if there will be a second tranche of the grant, Gatchalian said the President had said that the imposition of a price cap is temporary and for now the directive is to distribute the financial assistance to the micro and small rice retailers affected by the current price ceiling.
Amid the soaring prices of rice in the country, the bishop from the “Rice Granary of the Philippines” yesterday called on the Marcos administration to target rice cartels and not small traders and retailers.
In a radio interview, San Jose (Nueva Ecija) Bishop Roberto Mallari questioned why the government remains helpless against rice cartels despite the latter being long pointed as the cause of surges in rice prices.
“For the longest time, there have been talks regarding rice cartel. Has there been anyone punished or failed because of this?” asked Mallari, adding: “In reality, the power to control prices is in the hands of the giant rice traders and cartels.”
The prelate said he disagrees with the imposition of a rice price cap as this will adversely affect small rice traders and retailers.
“In this EO, who shall be the most vulnerable to sanctions? Will it be the big cartels or the small-time rice retailers in the market that only depend on their daily sales?” he asked.
“They just cannot sell their rice at a low price because of the high prices they paid to buy them,” added Mallari. — With Gerard Naval
