RESPONDING to the call of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to create a program to give poor and vulnerable families cash aid and cheaper rice, the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program was launched Saturday in Bukidnon with 3,000 beneficiaries after its successful implementation in Metro Manila and in some parts of Laguna last week.

The groundbreaking program, according to its principal proponent Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, aims to distribute rice and cash assistance to poor and vulnerable Filipino families through legislative districts of the House of Representatives.

The CARD Program also coincides with the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) now being held in Bukidnon. The rice and financial assistance program is an undertaking being implemented by the bigger chamber in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Mapalad ang Bukidnon dahil isa po kayo sa mga lugar na napiling pagdausan ng dalawang pinakabagong programa ng ating gobyerno — ang Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at ang Cash and Rice Distribution o CARD Program,” Speaker Romualdez said during the launch of the CARD program in the province.

“Nabuo ang programang ito para tulungan naman ang ating Pangulong Marcos, Jr. na mabigyan ng mura at magandang klase ng bigas ang ating mga komunidad sa iba’t-ibang panig ng bansa,” he added

Assisting Speaker Romualdez for the Bukidnon leg of the CARD program were Bukidnon Reps. Jonathan Keith Flores, and Laarni Lavin Roque, Governor Neil Roque, and Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora.

The CARD Program was earlier launched in Metro Manila, covering all its 33 legislative districts with each having 10,000 beneficiaries for a total of 330,000 residents.

At least 5,000 residents in Biñan City and Sta. Rosa in Laguna benefitted from CARD.

Under the program each beneficiary – which will include senior citizens, PWDs, solo parents and IPs – will receive at least P2,000 worth of cash and rice assistance: 25-kilogram sack of rice and P1,000 in cash to buy other food essentials. The DSWD will identify beneficiaries.

The CARD Program will also facilitate the putting up of booths for the purchase of cheaper rice.

“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 ganoong kadali para sa pamahalaan na mapapababa ang presyo ng bigas dito sa atin sa Pilipinas,” Romualdez explained

“Ganunpaman, sinikap nating humanap ng paraan kung paano makatulong para mapagaan ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan sa harap ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas at iba pang bilihin,” he continued.

The CARD Program, he said, was conceived with the help of DSWD Sec. Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

“Hindi lamang dito sa Bukidnon natin inilulunsad ang CARD program na ito. Nailunsad na rin natin ito sa Laguna at sa 17 siyudad at munisipyo sa buong Metro Manila. Target po natin na mabigyan ang 10,000 benepisyaryo sa bawat distrito,” Speaker Romualdez continued.

“Layon po natin na palawakin ang programang ito sa lahat ng panig ng bansa. Uunahin lamang natin ang mga siyudad kung saan mayroong kakulangan sa suplay ng mura at de-kalidad na bigas.

Simula pa lamang ito ng patuloy na pagbibigay natin ng ginhawa sa ating mga mamayan,” he said.

“Asahan ninyo na laging katuwang ninyo at ng ating Pangulong Marcos ang aking Office of the Speaker at ang buong kasapian ng House of Representatives para masigurong may sapat na pondo ang lahat ng programang laan para sa ordinaryong PIlipino,” he said.

Speaker Romualdez noted that like the BPSF, the CARD program will also go nationwide to serve constituents of the 250 congressional districts in the Philippines, which, at 10,000 beneficiaries per district, translates to 2.5 million indigent and vulnerable Filipinos.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco