Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, assisted by Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, 1st District Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso and City Mayor John Dalipe, leads the distribution of various form of assistance from the different government agencies during the opening of Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) at Zamboanga City Coliseum in Zamboanga City Friday morning (May 10, 2024).The two-day service caravan is expected to deliver services to around 111,000 beneficiaries from the province. Present in the event are over 85 district and party-list House members led by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez, Deputy Speaker Yasser Alonto Balindong and other local government officials.
A TOTAL of 10,000 beneficiaries from Zamboanga City were granted cash and rice assistance as part of a revolutionary program that grants vulnerable sectors access to affordable rice and essential financial aid.
The Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) program is an initiative of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez that 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.
“Alam po ng inyong mga kinatawan ang pinagdadaanan ng marami. Dama din po namin sa Kamara de Representante ang mabilis na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin, kasama dito ang bigas,” Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus members House of Representatives, said during the program held at the Summit Center, Universidad de Zamboanga on Friday.
“Kaya nga’t binuo ng tanggapan ng inyong lingkod ang programang CARD. Tinutugunan ng programang ito ang pangangailangan na masiguro na ang mas nakararaming Pilipino ay palaging may bigas na maisasaing, mapigilan ang hoarding at ng sa gayon ay mapabagal ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” he added
Each of the 10,000 beneficiaries in Zamboanga City received P2,000 through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program of the DSWD, and 25 kilos of premium rice worth P1,000.
The beneficiaries came from marginalized and vulnerable sectors such as the poor, senior citizens, PWDs, single parents and IPs, among others.
“Bawat isa po sa sampung libong benepisyaryo ay tatanggap ngayong araw ng tig-tatlong libong piso at dalawampu’t limang kilo ng bigas,” Speaker Romuladez said.
The Speaker also took the occasion to talk about the innovation he co-formulated with officials of the Department of Agriculture that will see rice prices below P30 in July.
“Hindi po dito nagtatapos ang aming pagserbisyo sa inyo. Nagtutulungan na ngayon ang Kongreso at Department of Agriculture para matiyak na may mura at de-kalidad na bigas nang mabibili simula ngayong Hulyo,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Ang target namin: bigas na hindi tataas sa P30 bawat kilo. Sisimulan ang pagbenta nito sa ilang piling KADIWA Centers na itatayo ng Department of Agriculture sa mga siyudad sa buong bansa,” he added
The Speaker explained that 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.
“Ginagamit din po namin ang tiwalang ibinigay ninyo sa amin para matukoy at panagutin ang mga taong nagsamantala para artipisyal na pataasin ang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin,” he expressed.
“Ang inyong lingkod, sampu ng iba pa nating kasamahan sa Kamara de Representantes, kasama ng mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, ay hindi po titigil at magpapatuloy na gawin ang lahat ng aming makakaya upang maitaguyod ang kapakanan ng mas nakararaming Pilipino.” (
