LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – “Narito po kami na mga provincial officials, katuwang niyo po [kami] nila Vice Governor at mga department heads para maibigay sa inyo ang karapat-dapat upang matulungan niyo ang inyong sarili at ang inyong pamilya.”
This was bared by Governor Amado I. Espino, III during the distribution of Livelihood Assistance Program (LAP) of the provincial government to local entrepreneurs in Pangasinan held at the Urduja House on October 23.
The provincial chief executive was assisted by Provincial Population Office Chief Ellsworth Gonzales in handing over Php1.6M financial assistance to the 5th batch of livelihood beneficiaries for calendar year 2017 which mainly consists of cooperatives and associations – represented by association presidents and proprietors.
Elated over the 95% repayment rate of the soft loan assistance, Gov. Pogi expressed his appreciation to the support of previous beneficiaries to the said project and vowed to sustain the financial loan program.
The fifth batch LAP for calendar year 2017 has a total of 680 beneficiaries.
Thirteen groups in the 5th batch received financial assistance for farm inputs – Cabarabuan KALIPI Association (Cabarabuan, Mangatarem); Cabayugan KALIPI Association (Cabayugan, Mangatarem); Cacaoiten KALIPI Association (Cacaoiten, Mangatarem); Bantocaling KALIPI Association (Bantocaling, Mangatarem); Casilagan KALIPI Association (Casilagan, Mangatarem); Aliguas Macolin RIC Federation (Poblacion, Mabini); Colayo Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (Colayo, Bani); Western Farmers Association of Dacap Norte, Inc. (Dacap Norte, Bani); Carmay West Farmers Association (Carmay West, Rosales); Capara Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc. (Rabago, Rosales); Alcala Livestock and Cassava Growers (Poblacion East, Alcala); Farmers Association of San Vicente Alcala Pangasinan, Inc. (San Vicente, Alcala); and Samahang Magsasaka at Manggagawa Association ng Urdaneta City (Nancamaliran East, Urdaneta City).
Meanwhile, three groups will use the financial assistance for commodity trading – Tebag East Rural Improvement Club (Tebag East, Sta. Barbara); Magbayahinan Ladies Association of Inmalog Norte, Inc. (Inmalog Norte, San Fabian); and Sobol KALIPI Association (Sobol, San Fabian).
The livelihood assistance program of the provincial government started in 2008 under the administration of the former governor and now representative of the fifth district, Cong. Amado T. Espino, Jr.
According to the PPO Chief, as of now, a total of Php94.8M financial assistance was handed over to more than two hundred groups of cooperatives and associations in the province of Pangasinan for increase of capital to expand their business projects.
By Dexter A. See
