A ranking officer of the Philippine House of Representatives (H-Rep) told Gov. Gwen Garcia that the House leadership is looking to tap the Capitol’s tried-and-tested QR-coded card system in distributing cheaper rice to the poorest households in Cebu.
House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias “Ponyong” P. Gabonada Jr. lauded Gov. Gwen’s technology-driven initiative of distributing assistance through the QR-coded cards and revealed that the House of Representatives plans to replicate Cebu’s successful innovative model in coming to the aid of the poorest of the poor.
“Our inspiration is your QR-coded system, Gov.,” DSG Gabonada said. He was joined by OPAV Usec. Terence Calatrava during his visit on September 2.
Under the proposed system, each eligible family, from a list identified by DSWD, will receive a QR-coded card downloaded with funds by the House of Representatives.
Such QR-coded card will be used in buying rice at discounted rates from the House’s partners.
For Cebu, the House is also looking to partner with the Capitol for this program, especially that the Province has also successfully implemented the Sugbo Merkadong Barato program or SMB.
Under the SMB, the Capitol purchased at least P100 million worth of rice from the National Food Authority, distributed them equitably among the LGUs, which were then tasked to sell the same to the poorest of the poor (as identified by DSWD) at P25 per kilo — making Cebu the first LGU in the entire country to have made concrete steps in making the President’s vision of affordable rice a reality.
This approach aims to enhance the efficiency of the distribution process while providing significant relief to low-income households, DSG Gabonada said.
“What is revolutionary in this program is that we will not distort the market. In fact, this will encourage the market to lower naturally its price because of the highly subsidized program that the provincial government will be having,” DSG Gabonada added.
His visit sets the potential for Cebu’s model to serve as a blueprint for other provinces, demonstrating how technology can be leveraged to address essential needs and improve public welfare. | Sugbo News