At present, the whole country is experiencing rising costs of goods and services, mainly due to global inflation and conflicts in the Middle East. As a result, more and more people, especially low-income families, are struggling to manage daily expenses.
Fortunately, the Philippine government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other agencies, has been implementing the Food Stamp Program and Supplemental Feeding Program. It has also introduced another initiative: the Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program – UnliRice.PH.

What is CARD – UnliRice.PH?
The Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program is a government initiative led by the House of Representatives and the DSWD. Under the leadership of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, it was officially launched last November 5, 2023 in Biñan City.
Initially, the program catered to 10,000 beneficiaries for each of Metro Manila’s 33 legislative districts. Also included were 3,000 beneficiaries from Biñan City and 2,000 beneficiaries from Sta. Rosa City in Laguna. All in all, the program benefited 335,000 people during the launching ceremony.
Interestingly, the CARD program launching ceremony coincided with the local roll-out of President Ferdinant R. Marcos, Jr.’s Baging Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Biñan City. This is a public service caravan that provides different types of government services.
Target Beneficiaries
The target beneficiaries of the CARD program are those who belong to the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors. These include senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), family breadwinners, single parents, indigenous persons, and others.
The task of identifying the program beneficiaries in every area is mostly done by the DSWD. As for the coverage, the program seeks to reach the whole country, providing qualified beneficiaries with rice and cash assistance.
Objectives of the Program
The CARD program seeks to ease the burden of Filipinos amid the rising costs of rice and other basic goods. Apparently, President Marcos has tasked House Speaker Romualdez to create a program that will provide rice aid to low-income Filipino households.
“Nabuo ang programang ito bilang sagot sa hamon ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. sa Kongreso na tumulong kung paano mabibigyan ng mura at magandang klase ng bigas ang ating mga komunidad (This program was created as a response to the challenge of President Ferdinand Marcos, for the Congress to find a way to provide affordable and quality rice to our communities),” Romualdez stated during the launching of the CARD program.
Assistance Provided
The amount of assistance given to each beneficiary is at least PHP 2,000. About PHP 950 of this comes in the form of rice (i.e. 25 kilogram sack priced at PHP 38 per kilo), while the remaining amount is given in the form of cash.

Online Registration via UnliRice.PH
As mentioned earlier, the DSWD is in charge of identifying the beneficiaries of the CARD program for every area. Nevertheless, eligible people may register online, especially those who are living in remote areas that are not usually visited by the DSWD.
Simply follow these steps to register online:
- Go to the UnliRice.PH official website.
- Click “Register Now” and fill out the online registration form.
- Upload a photo of your valid ID (front and back), and other additional documents that may be required.
- Submit the application and wait for a confirmation message via email or text message.
NOTE: Only one person may register for each household.
Latest Updates
Meanwhile, here are some of the latest news and updates about the CARD program:
Rice and Cash Aid Given in Sultan Kudarat
On February 25, 2024, cash aid and 500,000 kilograms of rice was given to 28,000 residents in Sultan Kudarat as part of the CARD program, the Manila Standard reported.
The event was spearheaded by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, with the assistance of Governor Pax Mangudadatu, provincial officials, and some members of the House of Representatives. It also coincided with the inauguration of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Sultan Kudarat.
During the event, there were 18,000 CARD beneficiaries, each of whom received 25 kilos of rice and PHP 1,000 in cash. Moreover, as part of the BPSF, 10,000 qualified individuals received 10 kilos of rice and PHP 700 worth of food packs each.
Rice, Cash Aid Distributed in Eastern Visayas
From April 5 to 7, 2024, more than 2 million kilograms of rice and PHP 250 million cash aid was distributed to 83,000 beneficiaries in Eastern Visayas as part of the CARD program, according to a report by the Philippine News Agency.
Each beneficiary received PHP 3,000 cash aid through the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program. This amount includes PHP 1,000 for rice (about 25 kilos at PH P40 per kilo) and PHP 2,000 for miscellaneous essential expenses.
Rice and Cash Distributed in Surigao
More than 6,000 residents of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur received cash assistance and rice under various government programs on June 21, 2024, based on a report by GMA News.
Distributions were made in separate ceremonies under these programs: Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD); Start-up, Incentives, Business Opportunity, and Livelihood (SIBOL); and Integrated Scholarship and Incentives Program (ISIP) for the Youth.
In Surigao del Sur, a total 2,000 beneficiaries received PHP 2,000 cash assistance each through the DSWD’s AICS Program. They also received 10 kilos of rice each.
Similarly, in Surigao del Norte, some 2,000 beneficiaries each received PHP 5,000 cash assistance through the SIBOL program for struggling business owners. They also received 5 kilos of rice each.
Also in Surigao del Norte, some 2,000 tertiary education students received PHP 2,000 cash assistance and 5 kilos of rice each through the ISIP for the Youth program. These students will be enrolled in the Commission of Higher Education’s Tulong Dunong Program.
Video: CARD Program in Surigao del Sur
Here are the highlights of the cash assistance and rice distribution event held recently in Surigao del Sur. The video was shared via the “Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution” Facebook page:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about the CARD program:
1. What is CARD – UnliRice.PH?
The Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) program is a government program led by the House of Representatives and the DSWD.
2. Who are its target beneficiaries?
The program’s target beneficiaries are the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors, including senior citizens, PWDs, family breadwinners, solo parents, indigenous persons, and others.
3. What are its objectives?
Basically, the program aims to ease the burden of low-income Filipino households, amid the risings costs of rice and other goods.
4. What are the benefits?
Beneficiaries of the program are given at least PHP 2,000 each, which includes 10 kilos of rice and the rest in the form of cash.
5. How can I learn more about it?
To learn more about the program, you can visit the nearest DSWD office in your area. You may also contact the DSWD Central Office.
Contact Information: DSWD Central Office
Address: DSWD Central Office, Constitution Hills, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Batasan Road, Quezon City, 1100 Metro Manila
Telephone: (02) 8931 8101 to 07
Email: inquiry@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://www.unlirice.ph/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/p/Cash-Assistance-and-Rice-Distribution-61556798281776/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Google Map:
Final Thoughts
Global inflation, rising costs, natural calamities — amid all of these occurrences, low-income Filipino households need all the help they can get. Thanks to the CARD program and other government initiatives, these burdens are made a little lighter!
Indeed, food security is a crucial matter that many Pinoys are facing today. Aside from the above government programs, there are several community-based initiatives that are worth replicating; these are the champion programs of the latest Walang Gutom Awards.