THE citizens of Isabela are the latest recipients of the Marcos administration’s program to distribute financial and rice assistance to vulnerable Filipino families through legislative districts of the House of Representatives.

Known as the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Rex Gatchalian are the chief proponents of the program in response to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr’s call for the House leader to help provide rice for the needy Filipinos.

“Ngayong araw po ay pormal nating sisimulan ang programang Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution o CARD program dito sa inyong probinsya,” Speaker Romualdez, the leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives, said in his message sent during Saturday’s launch of the CARD Program in Ilagan City.

“Nabuo ang programang CARD bilang tugon sa hamon ng ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa inyong Kongreso na tumulong para bigyan ng ginhawa ang ating mamamayan sa harap ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas at iba pang basic goods,” he added.

Each of the 3,000 beneficiaries received P1,000 financial assistance and 25-kilogram of rice.

Ilagan City Mayor Josemarie “Jay” L. Diaz led the launch of the program as Speaker Romualdez graced a separate event in Isabela for the launch of Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF).

“Tinanggap ng inyong Kongreso ang hamon ng pagtulong at agad kaming nakipag-ugnayan sa DSWD at sa ating mga kaibigan mula sa industriya ng bigas para masigurado na mananatiling abot-kamay ang bigas sa marami nating kababayan,” Speaker Romualdez said.

“Dito po natin nakikita kung paano tayo puwedeng magtulungan para sama-samang harapin ang anumang hamon sa buhay. Sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaisa at tiwala sa isa’t-sa, at sa tulong na rin ng pamahalaan, magagawa nating malampasan ang anumang pagsubok,” he added.

The CARD Program provides cash and rice assistance to 10,000 beneficiaries for each legislative district. It has already been launched in Metro Manila, Biñan City and Sta. Rosa in Laguna, and in Bukdinon.

The Province of Isabela has in total six legislative districts encompassing 34 municipalities and three cities.

“Simula lamang po ito. Kami po sa Kongreso ay hindi titigil at patuloy na magta-trabaho, kaisa ng administrasyon ng ating mahal na Pangulong Marcos Jr., para mabigyang-ginhawa ang mas marami pa nating mga kababayan,” Speaker Romualdez said.

“Bibigyan namin ng prayoridad ang mga kababayan nating mga mahihirap, senior citizens, mga may kapansanan, mga solo parents at mga katutubong Pilipino, sa programang CARD at iba pang programa ng ating pamahalaan,” he continued.

“Sa pagkakaisa at tiwala sa bawat isa, mas marami pa po tayong magagawa tungo sa sama-sama nating pag-unlad,” he said.