Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez distributes cash and rice to 3,000 beneficiaries of the Cash Assistance and Rice Discount (CARD) program during its launch at the Dugukanan, Capitol, in Siquijor province Sunday afternoon. Assisting him are Siquijor Governor Jake Vincent Villa and Lone District Rep. Zaldy Villa. Photo by VER NOVENO
Free rice from PBBM delivered by Speaker Romualdez in Siquijor
IN response to the rising price of rice, the Marcos administration on Sunday continued the program to distribute financial aid and free rice to poor Filipinos in Siquijor, in conjunction with the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) where an estimated 50,000 residents of the province benefited from the one-stop shop service provision.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) headed by Sec. Rex Gatchalian, led the launching of the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program in Dugukanan and Kapitolyo in Siquijor.
A total of P300 million worth of benefits were distributed in the province, including the P117 million direct cash assistance.
Based from the order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., Speaker Romualdez announced that up to 3,000 residents of Siquijor received a total of P2,000 aid each, including P1,000 in cash and a sack of 25-kilogram rice amounting to P1,000.
It was learned that Speaker Romualdez and the DSWD developed the CARD program in response to President Marcos’ challenge to help the administration provide poor Filipinos with free rice and other aid in the face of global inflation.
“Hindi nawawala ang kanin sa mesa ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Hindi kumpleto ang araw natin kung hindi makakain ng kanin. Kaya naman siniguro namin sa Kongreso na makahanap ng pondo para mabigyan ang mga PIlipino ng mura at libreng bigas maliban pa sa ibang ayuda,” explained Speaker Romualdez, who represented Pres. Marcos in implementing the program.
The leader of the House said the role of DSWD in the program is to make sure that the list of beneficiaries contains the names of Filipinos who belong to poor families and are really in need of the aid from the government.
“Binuo natin ang programang CARD upang manatiling abot-kamay ang bigas sa ating mga kababayan, partikular dito ang mga matatanda, mga may-kapansanan at iba pang mga sektor na
disadvantaged. Ngayong araw, hindi lang kayo tatanggap ng bigas, tatanggap din kayo ng tulong-pinansyal na maaaring gamiting puhunan para sa inyong kabuhayan,” according to Romualdez.
It was learned that from looking for funds, the House of Representatives is also continuing its investigation and monitoring the markets to ensure that there is no artificial increase in the price of rice due to opportunist businessmen.
“Batid naman po natin na may mga sektor na sadyang mapagsamantala, at pilit na pagkakitaan ang pangangailangan ng Pilipino sa bigas – bagay na nagdudulot ng artipisyal na pagtaas ng presyo ng importanteng bilihing ito. Maaari naman natin silang habulin at parusahan,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Aside from the CARD program, Speaker Romualdez also launched in Siquijor other programs developed by the House of Representatives and DSWD to expand government services and aid to Filipinos.
These include the ISIP (Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program) for young people which benefited at least 2,000 students and the SIBOL (Start-up Incentives, Business Opportunities and Livelihood) Program for 3,000 people who want to build a small business.
The government allocated a total of P10 million funds for the said ISIP and SIBOL programs.
Meanwhile, an estimated 50,000 residents of Siquijor attended the Service Fair and benefitted from the various services and aid from the government.
