The Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez granted 3,000 residents in Agusan del Norte belonging to vulnerable sectors – the poor, senior citizens, PWDs, single parents and indigenous peoples – financial and rice aid.
This initiative is upon the directive of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr.
The CARD Program, held March 22 at the Provincial Capitol Gym in Butuan City coincided with the opening of the two-day Agusan del Norte Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyon Fair (BPSF).
“We are happy to be with you today to bring hope to our people in the CARAGA Region. We are here because the time is over when your leaders are not seen or only seen every campaign,” Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives said during the opening of the program.
“We are here because we want to make sure that the measures we legislate including funding programs that help the people, are properly implemented and trickled down the people. This is part of our sworn duty.”
The CARD Program is a brainchild of Romualdez and was conceived in response to the challenge of President Marcos for the House of Representatives to help address increasing rice prices and provide support for vulnerable Filipinos by giving them access to affordable rice, coupled with essential cash assistance.
The program was attended by Romualdez, Senator Bong Revilla, Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino, and the more than 60 other House members who also attended the BPSF in Agusan del Norte.
Residents of Agusan del Norte from vulnerable sectors received P3,000 through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, broken down as follows: P1,000 for a 25-kilogram sack of rice at P40 per kilo, and a cash aid of P2,000 for miscellaneous essential expenses.
At the same time, a rice sale offering a P40 per kilo price will also be facilitated adjacent to the CARD Program, so that people can buy rice at discounted prices.
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.
“With the CARD program, the government is responding to the wishes of our beloved President Bongbong Marcos that no one will get hungry, and that the price of basic goods is always within the reach of the common people,” Romualdez said.
“We will continue with our thinking and implementation of other programs for your promotion, so that we remain worthy of your trust.”
Initiated last year, the program seeks to provide cash and rice assistance to qualified Filipino families, which will be identified by legislative districts.
The pilot distribution was done in Metro Manila, covering all its 33 legislative districts with each having 10,000 beneficiaries for a total of 330,000 residents, and in Biñan City and Sta. Rosa in Laguna.
“Umasa po kayo na ang inyong lingkod, kasama ng aking mga kapwa mambabatas sa Kamara de Representante, ay magta-trabaho ng mas masigasig upang mas marami pang mga Pilipino ang matulungan na makamit ang kanilang pangarap na mas magandang buhay,” said Romualdez.
(Rest assured that we as your public servant, together with my fellow legislators in the House of Representatives, will work more diligently so that more Filipinos can be helped to achieve their dream of a better life)