Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre lead the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) program to 5,000 beneficiaries at Tacloban City Astrodome Saturday afternoon (June 29, 2024). A joint initiative of the House of Representatives and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the program seeks to help indigents, senior citizens, PWDs, solo parents and IPs amid rising food prices. Also present during the event are nine “Young Guns” members of the House of Representatives and other local government officials.
TWO revolutionary programs initiated last year by House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez benefited some 8,000 qualified residents in the province of Leyte, each receiving P5,000 in financial assistance and rice packages Saturday.
Romualdez, who represents the people of Leyte, personally led the distribution ceremonies of the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) pogram and the Integrated Scholarship and Incentives for the Youth (ISIP for the Youth) program in separate ceremonies in Leyte.
“Tuloy-tuloy po ang ating tulong sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan ng ayuda mula sa vulnerable sectors at sa ating mga college students. Kayo po ang ibinilin ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. sa Kongreso na tulungan at siguruhin ang kapakanan sa panahong ito,” said Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus members House of Representatives.
The distribution of CARD and ISIP aid packages usually coincides with the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF), which rolls out millions of pesos in services and financial assistance to many qualified sectors in the country.
“Pero ang dalawang programang ito ay mahalaga para sa amin sa Kongreso, kasi direktang tulong ito sa sektor ng mga qualified na mag-aaral, senior citizens, PWDs, indigenous peoples, single parents at marami pang iba,” Romualdez explained.
“Dito natin ipinadadama ang kalinga ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., at inilalapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno para doon sa mga kailangan ng tulong. Saang sulok man kayo ng Pilipinas, aabutin namin kayo,” he added.
For the CARD program, a total of 5,000 qualified beneficiaries from Leyte each received P5,000 in financial aid through the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and 20 kilograms of rice in a simple ceremony held at the Tacloban Astrodome in Tacloban City.
The CARD is a revolutionary program that is an initiative of the Speaker to aid those in vulnerable sectors such as the poor, indigent senior citizens, PWDs, single parents, indigenous peoples and others.
Also an initiative of Romualdez, the ISIP for the Youth helps deserving students in the tertiary, technical and vocational levels cope with the strain of mounting educational expenses.
A total of 3,000 qualified beneficiaries in Leyte each received P5,000 each, also through the DSWD’s AICS, and 5 kilograms of rice for free in a distribution held in Alba Hall of the Leyte Normal University.
Identified student beneficiaries will also be enrolled under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) where students can get scholarship assistance per semester amounting to a total of P15,000.
They will also get priority slots under the Government Internship Program for employment after graduation, and their unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.
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