Upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the unprecedented Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin 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.
The CARD program, held recently at the Provincial Capitol Gym in Butuan City, coincided with the opening of the two-day Agusan del Norte Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF).
“Narito po kami dahil tapos na po ang panahon kung saan ang inyong mga pinuno ay hindi nakikita o nakikita lamang tuwing kampanya.”
“Kagalakan po namin na makasama kayo ngayong araw upang maghatid ng pag-asa sa ating mga kababayan sa CARAGA Region. Narito po kami dahil tapos na po ang panahon kung saan ang inyong mga pinuno ay hindi nakikita o nakikita lamang tuwing kampanya,” Romualdez, leader of the 300 plus-strong House of Representatives, said during the opening of the program.
“Narito kami dahil nais naming masigurado na ang mga batas na aming binabalangkas, kasama dito ang paglalagay ng pondo sa mga programang tumutulong sa taongbayan, ay talagang natutupad at nararamdaman ng mamamayan. Kasama po ito sa aming sinumpaang tungkulin,” the veteran legislator added.
The CARD program is a brainchild of the seasoned lawmaker and was conceived in response to the challenge of 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 Representative Joboy Aquino, together with more than 60 other House members.
A total of 3,000 Agusan del Norte residents from the so-called vulnerable sectors received P3,000 through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s 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.
A rice sale offering at P40 per kilo will also be facilitated to complement the CARD program for the people to 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.
“Sa programa po na CARD, tinutugunan po ng pamahalaan ang naisin ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na walang magugutom, at ang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin ay palaging abot-kamay ng karaniwang tao,” Romualdez explained.
“Mabibigyan po kayo ng bigas at dagdag-pondo na pwedeng gamitin para makapag-simula ng kabuhayan.”
“Mabibigyan po kayo ng bigas at dagdag-pondo na pwedeng gamitin para makapag-simula ng kabuhayan. Isa lamang po ito sa maraming programa ng pamahalaan na tumutugon sa inyong pangangailangan,” he stressed.
“Kami po ay magpapatuloy sa aming pagi-isip at pagpapatupad ng iba pang programa para sa inyong pag-asenso, para kami ay manatiling karapat-dapat sa inyong tiwala,” Romualdez added.
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 magtatrabaho ng mas masigasig upang mas marami pang mga Pilipino ang matulungan na makamit ang kanilang pangarap na mas magandang buhay,” he concluded.
