9,000 Davao City beneficiaries receive rice, financial aid from CARD, ISIP, SIBOL programs

A total of 9,000 students, small entrepreneurs and individuals belonging to vulnerable sectors in Davao City received rice, financial, and livelihood assistance under three programs of the Marcos administration formulated by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and the House of Representatives.

Speaker Romualdez led the distribution ceremonies for the Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program, the Integrated Scholarships and Incentives for the Youth (ISIP) Program, and the Start-Up, Investments, Business Opportunities and Livelihood (SIBOL) Program in separate areas in Davao City Thursday

“Hindi natin binibitawan ang tatlong programang ito dahil naniniwala tayo na kung mas marami ang natutulungan ng pamahalaan ay mas madaling uunlad ang ating mga komunidad. Ito rin ay pagsunod sa utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na ilapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga tao,” Speaker Romualdez expressed as Davaoeños gave his delegation a very warm welcome.

“Kaya naman sa tuwing may BPSF, tayo sa isang lugar o lalawigan, sinisikap natin na mayroon ding CARD, ISIP at SIBOL para sa mga sektor ng lipunan na kailangan din ng ayuda,” the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives added.

A total of 3,000 beneficiaries from vulnerable sectors such as the poor, senior citizens, PWDs, single parents, IPs and others each received P5,000 through DSWD’s Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) in a simple distribution ceremony held at the El Pueblo Countryside Road in Davao City.

All beneficiaries also received 20 kilograms of premium Pinoy rice.

The program aims to respond to the increasing rice prices and support vulnerable Filipinos by providing them with affordable access to rice and essential cash assistance.

For the ISIP Program, a total of 3,000 student- beneficiaries received cash assistance in the amount of P5,000 each from the AKAP of DSWD and 5 kilograms of rice in a distribution event held at the University of Southeastern Philippines.

Upon directive of President Marcos, ISIP is another initiative of Speaker Romualdez in collaboration with various government agencies, to assist deserving students facing financial challenges in pursuing quality education. It targets tertiary and vocational education students.

Aside from the cash aid, identified student beneficiaries will be enrolled under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) where students can get scholarship assistance per year amounting to a total of P15,000, and priority slots under the Government Internship Program (GIP).

Their unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the DOLE-TUPAD Program.

For the SIBOL, a total of 3,000 struggling small entrepreneurs each received P5,000 in livelihood aid under DSWD’s AKAP, along with 5 kilograms of rice, in a simple ceremony held at the Ayala Azuela Cove in Lanang, Davao City.

This program aims to support MSMEs and start-up businesses through a convergence of government initiatives and private sector efforts and substantial capital infusion.

“We believe that these financial assistance programs are an investment. Kapag umunlad ang mga tinutulungan natin mula sa mga sektor na ito, mag-aambag na sila para sa pag-unlad ng bayan. Kaya lubos ang aking suporta sa pagpapatuloy ng CARD, ISIP at SIBOL program,” Speaker Romualdez said.