2.5m Pinoys to get cash, rice

Members of the House of Representatives and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will distribute rice and financial aid to at least 2.5 million poor Filipinos within the next two weeks under the “Malaya Rice Project.”

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez announced the project Thursday night, noting that the rice distribution is in line with the program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of bringing affordable, quality rice to the people, particularly those in most need.

The distribution of rice will begin in Metro Manila in partnership with the region’s 33 lawmakers and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Romualdez said.

He said he asked the 33 House members to identify 10,000 indigent residents who would receive the rice assistance—including senior citizens, solo parents and persons with disability.

Each beneficiary will receive P1,000 and 15 kilos of rice worth P500 to P600, with the process taking “less than a month,” he said.

The Speaker said they would then have this replicated in other urban areas of the country.

“We would like to use a similar mechanism to buy palay from the rice growers. This is to afford better prices not just for the consumers, but also for the growers, for the farmers themselves. So we will start this program this October… within the next two weeks,” Romualdez said.

The rice distribution this month would just be the first round, he said.

“This is not a one-shot deal,” he said. “Once it is successful, and I’m confident that it will be…we’ll be able to replicate this and do further successive rounds of this.”

Romualdez said they would replicate the Metro Manila distribution in Metro Cebu, Davao and other large urban areas.

There are more than 250 legislative districts in the country. With an initial target of 10,000 recipients in each district, the program will benefit at least 2.5 million Filipinos in its first round.

Also on Friday, Romualdez called on all civil servants to act in unison to cushion the impact of rising prices.

“Now, more than ever, is the time for unity and teamwork. Let’s roll up our sleeves, work double-time, and deliver real results for our countrymen,” Romualdez said.

With the onset of harvest