2,000 Oriental Mindoro residents receive cash, rice aid

VICTORIA, Oriental Mindoro — The Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program has reached the province of Oriental Mindoro, with a total of 2,000 residents receiving cash and rice assistance from the revolutionary program that distributes aid by legislative districts of the House of Representatives.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the primary proponent of the program, highlighted its significance as a testament to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s tireless efforts to provide affordable rice to Filipino families and distribute aid to vulnerable sectors of society.

“This is one of President Bongbong Marcos’s calls, to provide care to our fellow countrymen who are struggling with daily expenses and food. That’s why we came up with this program to help sectors in need of assistance,” Romualdez said Saturday.

“In the CARD Program, we focus on the vulnerable sectors of our society, such as indigent senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and indigenous people or IPs. And we ensure that we reach all districts in the Philippines because our distribution is per district,” he added.

The CARD Program in Oriental Mindoro took place at the Mindoro State University Gymnasium in the Municipality of Victoria on Saturday morning. Romualdez led the event with the assistance of Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor and Rep. Arnan Panaligan.

A total of 50,000 kilograms of rice were distributed to 2,000 qualified residents of Oriental Mindoro. Under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), beneficiaries received P2,000 in assistance, with P1,000 as cash aid and P1,000 for a 25-kilogram sack of rice.

All beneficiaries were identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and IPs.

Romualdez, nicknamed “Mr. Rice,” emphasized the importance of rice in Filipino households and vowed to continue efforts to make rice more accessible, including cracking down on rice smugglers.

“Rice is life. And we will not allow our fellow countrymen to lose access to affordable rice. That’s why all our efforts here in the House are focused on lowering the price of rice, including the pursuit of rice smugglers,” Romualdez said.

The previous CARD Program distribution was held in Sultan Kudarat, where 500,000 kilograms of rice were distributed to residents of the Mindanao province.

Initiated last year, the program aims to provide cash and rice assistance to qualified Filipino families identified by legislative districts. The pilot distribution covered all 33 legislative districts in Metro Manila, as well as Biñan City and Sta. Rosa in Laguna.