Cash aid, rice distribution held in Zambales, benefit 3K residents
THE revolutionary cash aid and rice distribution program of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. was launched in Zambales on Saturday, coinciding with the opening of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in the province.
The Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program which benefitted qualified Zambales residents, is a project of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the House of Representatives, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led by Sec. Rex Gatchalian in response to the challenge of President Marcos for lawmakers to provide rice assistance for Filipinos.
“This program responds to the challenge of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to help Filipinos cope with the times. Kaya aming inilunsad itong CARD program na layong bigyan ng tulong ang mga nahihirapang kababayan natin sa pamama gitan ng tulong-pinansyal at bigas,” Speaker Romualdez, the leader of the 300-plus-member House of Representatives, said.
“We hope that this program provides temporary relief to our citizens who find it difficult to cope with the cost of daily living. Rest assured that while we roll out programs like this, the Marcos administration is doing everything it can to provide more jobs and livelihood to the people,” he added.
The program was launched last year, and it aims to provide cash and rice assistance to qualified Filipino families, which will be identified by legislative districts.
For Zambales, a total of 3,000 residents in the congressional district of Rep. Doris “Nanay Bing” E. Maniquiz received P2,000 worth of assistance: P500 worth of rice and P1,500 in cash to buy other food essentials.
The CARD Program will also facilitate the putting up of booths for the purchase of cheaper rice. The distribution was held at the Iba Gymnasium Sports Center in Iba, Zambales, with Romualdez as the keynote speaker for the event.
The CARD Program was earlier initiated in Metro Manila, covering all its 33 legislative districts and in Biñan City and Sta. Rosa in Laguna. The program was earlier implemented in the provinces of Bukidnon, Iloilo, and Isabela.
The DSWD identifies all the beneficiaries, which includes senior citizens, PWDs, solo parents, and IPs.
“We hope to cover all legislative districts for the entire duration of the implementation of the project. We thank the DSWD for partnering with the House of Representatives for this program,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Romualdez said the initiative is a response to the increasing rice prices and aims to support vulnerable Filipinos by providing them with affordable access to rice and essential cash assistance.
The program not only intends to boost the purchasing power of the public but also serves as a strategic measure against hoarding and price manipulation of rice stocks.
The CARD Program represents a joint effort to address the challenges of rising rice prices and promote economic stability for the benefit of the Filipino people.
