Ecija town uses ‘blue cards’ for basic services delivery
SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija – The municipal government here, led by Mayor Arvin C. Salonga, has started distributing so-called “blue cards” to heads of families here for easy and quick access to basic services including the distribution of various types of assistance to bonafide residents of this first-class municipality.
Municipal General Services Officer Maria Roma Vida S. David told the Journal Group that about 22,000 of the more than 25,000 blue cards have already been given to their rightful owners as of this first week of June.
These identification cards will be used for verification purposes during the giving out of various kinds of assistance to bonafide residents of this town.
“It is an effective data system which the local government led by Mayor Salonga conceptualized and started to use even during the COVID-19 pandemic when physical contact between persons was restricted or limited,” said David.
Salonga earlier said these IDs could also be used for verification purposes or a deterrent against suspected criminals trying to enter the town during police checkpoint operations.
Roma added that the local data system has been a useful tool for the municipal social welfare and development office in providing the exact figures during the giving out of financial aid to residents here.
“Alam na agad natin ang bilang kung sino, ilang pamilya at saan bahay sila nakatira kaya madali ang pamamahagi ng ayuda sa mga barangay,” she said.
She noted this data system was also used in the provincial government’s rice distribution program of about 25,340 bags of Malasakit Rice to the town’s 16 barangays.
Of the total 25,000 blue ID cards targeted for distribution, about 21,984 were already handed out to household heads as of June 2, it was learned.
