House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

Some 3,000 residents from Bukidnon benefitted from House Speaker Martin Romualdez's Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) program after the initiative was launched in the province Saturday, Nov. 11. 

“Nabuo ang programang ito para tulungan naman ang ating Pangulong Marcos, Jr. na mabigyan ng mura at magandang klase ng bigas ang ating mga komunidad sa iba’t-ibang panig ng bansa,” Romualdez said in his speech during the event. 

(This program was formed as a way to help President Marcos, Jr. provide cheap and good quality to the communities in different parts of the country.) 

Accompanying the House leader for the Bukidnon leg of the CARD program were Bukidnon Reps. Jonathan Keith Flores, and Laarni Lavin Roque; Governor Neil Roque, and Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora. 

Under the program, each of the beneficiaries--which will include senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents and indigenous peoples (IPs)--will receive at least P2,000 worth of cash and rice assistance: specifically, a 25-kilogram sack of rice and P1,000 in cash to buy other food essentials. 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will identify the beneficiaries. The CARD program will also put up of booths with cheap rice. 

The CARD program was earlier launched in Metro Manila, covering all its 33 legislative districts with each having 10,000 beneficiaries for a total of 330,000 residents. 

At least 5,000 residents in Biñan City and Sta. Rosa in Laguna have also benefitted from CARD. 

“Alam natin na buong mundo ang nahihirapan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin dahil sa global inflation na dala ng mga digmaan sa Middle East. Dahil dito, hindi ganoong kadali para sa pamahalaan na mapapababa ang presyo ng bigas dito sa atin sa Pilipinas,” Romualdez explained. 

(The whole world is experiencing a surge in the prices of goods because of global inflation that has been worsened by the wars in the Middle East. Because of this, the government finds it difficult to lower the prices of rice here in the Philippines.)  

“Layon po natin na palawakin ang programang ito sa lahat ng panig ng bansa. Uunahin lamang natin ang mga siyudad kung saan mayroong kakulangan sa suplay ng mura at de-kalidad na bigas. Simula pa lamang ito ng patuloy na pagbibigay natin ng ginhawa sa ating mga mamamayan,” said the Leyte 1st district representative. 

(Our goal is have this program reach all corners of the country. We will prioritize the cities tha have a shortage in the supply of cheap and good quality rice. This is just the start of our way of giving relief to the people.) 

“Asahan ninyo na laging katuwang ninyo at ng ating Pangulong Marcos ang aking Office of the Speaker at ang buong kasapian ng House of Representatives para masigurong may sapat na pondo ang lahat ng programang laan para sa ordinaryong PIlipino," he said. 

(You can be assured that President Marcos, the Office of the Speaker as well as the entire House of Representatives will always endeavor to provide ample funds for the benefit of the common Filipino.)