IN response to global inflation, the Marcos administration provided financial aid and free rice to impoverished residents of Siquijor province during Sunday’s New Philippines Service Fair (NPSF), benefiting an estimated 50,000 people through efficient service delivery.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, and other officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), launched the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program at the Siquijor provincial capitol as part of the NPSF event.

The province received a total of P300 million in benefits, with P117 million allocated as direct cash assistance.

Following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, Speaker Romualdez announced that 3,000 Siquijor residents received P2,000 each in assistance, comprising P1,000 in cash and an additional 25-kilogram sack of rice purchased at a discounted price of only P1,000 per sack.

The CARD program was established by Speaker Romualdez and the DSWD through

Sec. Rex Gatchalian in response to President Marcos’ call for assistance in ensuring the provision of free rice and other aid to impoverished Filipinos amid the challenges of global inflation.

“Rice is an indispensable staple on every Filipino family’s table. Our day is not complete without it. That is why we have made it a priority in Congress to secure funds to provide affordable and free rice to our fellow countrymen, in addition to other forms of assistance,” explained Speaker Romualdez, who represented President Marcos in implementing these programs.

Speaker Romualdez underscored the significance of the DSWD’s role in ensuring that the list of beneficiaries is comprised only of those Filipinos who are genuinely in need of government support.

“The CARD program was established to ensure that rice remains accessible to our fellow citizens, particularly the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other disadvantaged sectors. Today, you will not only receive rice but also financial aid that can serve as capital for your livelihood,” Romualdez emphasized.

In addition to securing funds, the House of Representatives is actively investigating and conducting market inspections to prevent artificial inflation of rice prices caused by unscrupulous traders.

“We are well aware that certain sectors take advantage of the Filipino people’s reliance on rice, leading to artificial price hikes for this essential commodity. We are determined to pursue and penalize those responsible,” added Speaker Romualdez.

Apart from the CARD program, Speaker Romualdez also launched other initiatives in Siquijor, developed by the House of Representatives and the DSWD, with the aim of expanding government services and providing assistance to Filipinos.

These initiatives include the Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program (ISIP), benefiting 2,000 students, as well as the Start-up Incentives, Business Opportunities, and Livelihood (SIBOL) Program, catering to 3,000 individuals interested in establishing small businesses.

The government has allocated a total budget of P10 million for the ISIP and SIBOL programs.

Approximately 50,000 residents of Siquijor availed themselves of various government services and aid during the Service Fair.