Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro -- Forging alliances with other governmnent agencies to resolve involuntary hunger, Speaker Martin Romualdez said the Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) program also envisions Filipino people to be free from poverty.

CARD is a joint project of Office of the Speaker Romualdez, together with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which responds to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s challenge to provide affordable rice and financial aid to Filipinos.

“Ang CARD ay ang isa sa pinakamahusay at sikat na programang hatid ng pamahalaan sa mga kababayan nating Pilipino. Sa kabila ng pag-kakatuyot ng mga palay dulot ng El Niño at pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas, marami ang naghihirap o nagugutom sapagkat hindi na kaya ng bulsa ang bilihin,” Speaker Romualdez said in his message before thousands of audience-beneficiaries.

“Dahil dito, gumawa po kami ng solusyon sa pamamagitan ng isang programa na tulad ng CARD na kung saan hindi lamang po cash assistance ang aming hatid, pati na rin ang bigas na dekalidad at abot-kaya ng sambayanan. Ito po ay pangako ng ating mahal na Pangulong Marcos— sama sama tayong babangon muli upang wala ng Pilipino ang magugutom,” he added.

The program benefited over 2,000 Mindoreños who received P1,000 cash assistance through DSWD-AICS and 25 kilogram sack of rice in Mindoro State University on Saturday, March 9.

Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor, who joined First District Congressman Arnan C. Panaligan and was supported by 22 House Members from Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions, assured the Speaker that the province will fully participate in the cause.

“On behalf of Oriental Mindoro, asahan niyo po na katuwang niyo kami sa pagpapadaloy ng biyaya ng pamahalaan para sa sambayanang Mindoreño.” Dolor said in his welcoming remarks.

Selected beneficiaries among senior citizens, PWDs, single parents, indigenous peoples (IPs) and others are identified by the DSWD, including the 800 members of Tricycle Operators and Driver’s Association (TODA), which the Speaker referred to as ‘very close to his heart’.

Relly Napa, a 43 years old TODA driver in Calapan City said it’s a blessing and privilege to be chosen in the program in order to provide for the needs of his family. “Lubos po akong nag-papasalamat kay Speaker Martin dahil binigyan niya po kaming mga tricycle driver ng pagkakataon na maging parte ng isang napaka-gandang programa. Malaking tulong po ito para sa aking pamilya,” he said in an interview.

“Ngayon lang po ito nangyari sa aming lalawigan— ang pagkalooban ng dekalidad sa abot-kayang presyo na bigas, at may kasama pang tulong pang-pinansyal. Sana po ay marami pang matulungan si Speaker Romualdez, lalo na po kaming mga nasa laylayan.” Apolinario Napa, a senior citizen who also lives in Calapan City.

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. This aims to address the challenges of rising rice prices and promote economic stability to better the lives of the Filipinos.

Oriental Mindoro was the seventh grantee of CARD Program, which launched last November 2023 in Biñan City and Santa Rosa in Laguna and Metro Manila. (BPSF)