The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched a new program called the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Martin Romualdez in response to Filipino people’s need for accessible and affordable high-quality rice.
The CARD Program is dedicated to helping the poorest residents across 33 Metro Manila districts feed their families and address the ever-increasing rice price issue. This program will distribute a structured payout to 10,000 poor and unfortunate residents. The distribution is divided into four payouts, to which beneficiaries will receive no less than Php 2,000 allocated for a 25-kilogram sack of rice worth Php 950 (for Php 38 per kilo of rice).
Function of the CARD Program
The CARD Program is a joint effort of the House of Representatives and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with the help of Local Government Units (LGUs) in Metro Manila to lessen the burden of buying high-priced rice.
- Beneficiaries
The CARD program aims to help 10,000 poor residents per district within Metro Manila including residents of Biñan City and Sta. Rosa City in Laguna. The total number of beneficiaries climbed up to 335,000 families.
- Inclusion Criteria
The CARD program is dedicated to vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, and Indigenous peoples (IPs).
- Aid Distribution
The program will provide a financial grant of at least Php 8,000 divided into four (4) payouts. The financial assistance is allocated to a 25-kilogram sack of rice and the remainder of cash for meat, vegetables, and fruits.
Documentary Requirements for the CARD Program
Applicants for the CARD Program must provide these three (3) documents to register.
- Identification – Applicants must present any valid government-issued identification card. For Indigenous People (IPs), they must present a membership certificate as proof that they are part of the IP community.
- Proof of Residency – Applicants must also provide proof that they live in the district of Metro Manila by showing Utility bills with their names on them or a barangay certificate that they can acquire from their barangay hall.
- Special Documents – Senior citizens, Persons with Disability, and solo parents must bring their senior citizen ID, voter’s ID, and solo parent ID.
How to Avail of the CARD Program?
If you are eligible and have all the requirements needed for this program, follow these easy step-by-step instructions on how to avail of this CARD Program.
Step 1: Register
Applicants must first visit their barangay hall or municipal office to ask about the program and the registration. The Local Government Units (LGUS) gather all the applicants’ profiles to evaluate and confirm their residency.
Step 2: CARD Program Orientation
Applicants must attend the community briefing provided by the DSWD. This information session provides important details about the program and the distribution schedule so make sure to ask the barangay officials about the schedule of the information session of the CARD Program.
Step 3: Distribution Schedule
The distribution dates and locations are posted by the local officials through community bulletin boards or their official social media accounts. You have to keep yourself updated by checking all the information channels.
Once you have the scheduled date and location, make sure to go to the location early and bring all the documents needed. The applicant’s presence is a must and no proxies are allowed.
Step 4: Financial Assistance and Supply
Once your documents and eligibility are verified, you will receive financial aid and supplies from the CARD Program.
Remember that there are 10,000 residences allotted per district and you don’t know how many people will be in the distribution area. So, it is wise to expect a long queue of people and to go to the location very early in the morning and bring water to hydrate yourself.
Online Rice Assistance via UnliRice.PH
Going to the barangay hall or municipal office is one way of registering for the CARD program. Another way is to register online via https://www.unlirice.ph/. For applicants who have access to the internet, this is a convenient and safe way to apply especially if you live far from the registration center. Just follow these easy steps to register.
Step 1: Go online and visit the CARD program website at https://www.unlirice.ph/.
Step 2: Click ‘Register Now’ and fill out the registration form. Ensure that you are encoding the correct information.
Step 3: Upload your valid government-issued identification card, front and back.
Step 4: Click ‘Submit’ and wait for verification and confirmation via email or text message.
Step 5: Once your application is approved, wait for the announcement of the distribution schedule via the official social media account and community bulletin boards.
Step 6: On the day of the distribution schedule, bring all the necessary documents and collect your cash and rice assistance.
Note that only one per household can register on the Online Rice Assistance.
Latest Update for the CARD Program
The success of the implementation of the CARD Program in 33 districts of Metro Manila and some districts of Laguna was seen and the Philippine government wanted to expand it to other provinces of the Philippines.
Eastern Visayas
The program allocated over 2 million kilograms of rice and a Php 250 million financial grant to help 83,000 beneficiaries afford to feed their families with quality and healthy food. Each beneficiary received Php 2,000 cash aid and Php 1,000 worth of rice for a total of Php 3,000.
Sultan Kudarat
The CARD program distributed cash aid and 500,000 kilograms of rice to 28,000 beneficiaries in Sultan Kudarat. Each beneficiary received Php 1,000 cash aid and 25 kilos of rice. There are also 10,000 qualified individuals in the inauguration of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) who received 10 kilos of rice and Php 700 worth of food packs.
Surigao
The CARD program conducted a separate distribution in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Over 6,000 individuals received Php 2,000 cash assistance and 10 kilograms of rice. The distribution in Surigao is also conducted with the help of other programs such as Start-Up, Incentives, Business Opportunity, and Livelihood (SIBOL) and Integrated Scholarship and Incentives Program (ISP) for the Youth.
Video: Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program Lipa, Batangas
Watch this video by the House of Representatives as they conducted a program led by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to distribute the Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program in Lipa, Batangas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CARD program?
The Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program is a project led by the House of Representatives and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that aims to help marginalized groups with their financial burden.
Who is eligible for the CARD program?
The CARD program is dedicated to low-income Filipino households and marginalized groups such as senior citizens, Persons with Disability (PWDs), solo parents, and Indigenous People (IP).
What can I get from the CARD program?
The CARD program allocates a sack of rice and cash aid that will be used to buy meat, vegetables, and fruits. The number of kilograms of rice and the amount of cash aid may differ.
How can I be part of the CARD program?
There are two ways to register for the CARD program. First, you can go to your barangay hall or municipal office and inquire about the program. They will provide you the important information and an orientation schedule. Second, you can register online at https://www.unlirice.ph/. Fill out the information page and upload the necessary documents.
Where can I get the distribution schedule?
The distribution dates and locations are posted on the community bulletin boards in your barangay hall or municipal office. They are also posted on the official social media account such as Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/p/Cash-Assistance-and-Rice-Distribution-61556798281776/).
I can personally attend on the scheduled distribution. Can one of my family receive it on my behalf?
The presence of the registered beneficiary is a must. The cash aid and rice will only be given to those who are present and have complete documents.
What are the documents needed for the CARD program?
Beneficiaries must bring their valid government-issued identification card, proof of residency such as a barangay certificate and utility bills under the beneficiary’s name, and special documents for senior citizens ID, Persons with Disability (PWDs) ID, solo parents ID, and indigenous membership certificates for Indigenous People (IP).
Why do I have to bring proof of residency?
The Proof of Residency is needed to verify if you are a bona fide resident of the district.
Summary
A typical Filipino family eats rice thrice a day. Needless to say, Filipinos consume more than 100 kilograms per year. Rice is our staple food and part of our culture. This is the food that will always be on our table. However, with the economic crisis and inflation that we are all suffering, the poor and vulnerable people are the most affected. Buying food becomes a burden and much more if you want to provide healthy food for your family.
The Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program is a project created to answer the needs of the Filipino people. This program not only provides cash aid and rice but also ensures that Filipinos have food on their table.