House Speaker Martin Romualdez speaks to the crowd in Biñan City, Laguna during the launch of the CARD program on Nov. 5, 2023. (Speaker’s office)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez led on Sunday, Nov. 5 the launch of the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) program, which was meant as a response to the Filipinos' burden of escalating rice prices. 

The CARD Program was launched in Metro Manila’s 33 legislative districts, with the beneficiaries being 10,000 poor and vulnerable residents for each district. 

The distribution is divided into four payouts under the program, which is a joint endeavor of the House and the Department Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) headed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian. 

Held alongside the launch in Metro Manila was a distribution in Biñan City (3,000 beneficiaries) and Sta. Rosa City (2,000 beneficiaries), both in the province of Laguna. This resulted to a total of 335,000 beneficiaries for the launch. 

The amount of assistance for each beneficiary–which will also include senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents and indigenous peoples (IPs)–amounts to at least P2,000: P950 for the 25-kilogram sack of rice at P38 per kilo, and the remaining given in the form of cash. 

"Ngayong umaga, pormal nating sisimulan ang pinakabagong programa ng ating pamahalaan—ang Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution o CARD program,” Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives, said during the introduction of the program in Biñan City. 

(This morning, we will formally launch the newest program of the government--the Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution or CARD program.) 

The Biñan event coincided with the local rollout of President Marcos' Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in the city. Partly organized by the Speaker, the BPSF is an all-encompassing public service caravan. 

President Marcos had earlier challenged Romualdez to create a program that will give rice aid to the poor amid the soaring retail prices of the staple grain the past few months. 

“Nabuo ang programang ito bilang sagot sa hamon ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. sa Kongreso na tumulong kung paano mabibigyan ng mura at magandang klase ng bigas ang ating mga komunidad,” Romualdez said. 

(This program was created as a response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s challenge for Congress to find a way to provide our communities with cheap but good quality rice.) 

The DSWD is tasked to identify the beneficiaries. It may increase the amount of assistance in some some areas depending on its evaluation of the prevailing circumstances. 

“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 ganun kadali para sa pamahalaan na mapapababa ang presyo ng bigas dito sa atin sa Pilipinas,” the Speaker 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.) 

“Gayunpaman sinikap nating humanap ng paraan kung paano makakatulong para mapagaan ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan sa harap ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas at iba pang bilihin," he said. 

(In spite of this, we searched for a way to help ease the burden on our countrymen amid the rising cost of rice and other commodities.)