General Santos City – In line with its steadfast commitment to bolstering small-scale businesses, the DSWD actively provided continuous cash assistance of P15,000 each to micro-rice retailers and sari-sari store owners recently.

260 micro-rice retailers and sari-sari store owners from General Santos City and 245 from Alabel, Sarangani Province, whose businesses are registered, were identified and verified by the Department of Trade and Industry. This ensured that those in-need received the assistance.

The one-time cash assistance from the Sustainable Livelihood Program of DSWD is part of a nationwide initiative to reach affected micro-rice retailers and sari-sari store owners due to the implementation of Executive Order No. 39, which imposed price caps on regular and well-milled rice.