Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez flashes a thumbs up sign with Laguna province officials led by Governor Ramil Hernandez, Laguna 2nd District Rep. Ruth Hernandez, Biñan City Lone District Rep. Len Alonte and Biñan City Vice Mayor Gel Alonte during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair Cash and Rice Distribution Program (CARD) Sunday morning at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan City, Laguna. (Photo from the Office of Speaker Romualdez)
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives (HOR) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched a program on Sunday for the distribution of cash and rice assistance to indigent Filipinos.
The initiative, dubbed the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program, was formally launched in 33 legislative districts in Metro Manila and two cities in Laguna.
“Makasaysayan po ang araw na ito, hindi lamang dito sa Laguna kundi maging sa buong Metro Manila. Ngayong umaga, pormal nating sisimulan ang pinakabagong programa ng ating pamahalaan — ang Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution o CARD program,” Romualdez said in a statement.
(This day is historic, not only here in Laguna but also in the entire Metro Manila. This morning, we will formally begin our government’s newest program, the Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution, or CARD program.)
The House said that 10,000 poor and vulnerable beneficiaries from each of the 33 legislative districts in Metro Manila will benefit from the pilot implementation of the program.
The distribution will be divided into four payouts, the HOR’s statement read.
Meanwhile, there were 3,000 and 2,000 beneficiaries in Biñan City and Sta. Rosa, respectively.
Among the beneficiaries of the CARD Program are senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and indigenous peoples who received at least P2,000.
“The amount of assistance for each beneficiary – which will also include senior citizens, PWDs, solo parents and IPs – totals at least P2,000: P950 for the 25-kilogram sack of rice at P38 per kilo and the remaining in cash to buy other food essentials,” said HOR.
The lower house said that it aims to include more beneficiaries from 250 congressional districts in the Philippines.
“At 10,000 beneficiaries per district, the total recipients will be 2.5 million indigent and vulnerable Filipinos,” it said.
The DSWD is in charge of identifying recipients and may increase the amount of aid in specific places based on its assessment of the beneficiaries’ living situation.
According to Romualdez, the program was in response to President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr.’s call to create a program that would give rice aid to poor Filipinos.
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“Alam natin na buong mundo ang nahihirapan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin dahil sa global inflation na dala ng mga digmaan sa Middle East. Dahil dito, hindi ganun kadali para sa pamahalaan na mapapababa ang presyo ng bigas dito sa atin sa Pilipinas,” the House Speaker said.
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(We know that the whole world is struggling with rising commodity prices due to global inflation brought on by wars in the Middle East. Because of this, it is not that easy for the government to lower the price of rice here in the Philippines.)
Aside from providing aid, the CARD Program is also a “countermeasure against those holding large rice stocks and those involved in price manipulation,” Romualdez said.