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 Romualdez and the House of Representatives.
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 Sept. 5.
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 the 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, a press release from the Office of Romualdez said.
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, 3,000 student- beneficiaries received cash assistance of P5,000 each from the AKAP of DSWD and five kilograms of rice, in a distribution event held at the University of Southeastern Philippines.
Upon the directive of Marcos, ISIP is another initiative of 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 where students can get scholarship assistance per year, amounting to P15,000, and priority slots under the Government Internship Program.
Their unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the DOLE-TUPAD program.
For the SIBOL, 3,000 struggling small entrepreneurs each received P5,000 in livelihood aid under the DSWD’s AKAP, along with five kilograms of rice, 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,” Romualdez said. ||
