SAGADA, Mountain Province – Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. underscored that the provincial government will prioritize the implementation and grant of livelihood projects to qualified residents in the various barangays to allow them to recover from negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic to their economic activities and sources of livelihood and bring back the vibrance of the province’s economy.
Lacwasan opined that the effect of the pandemic to the province’s economy had been enormous and the provincial government has embarked on a sustainable livelihood program to jumpstart desired economic activities for the impacted constituency.
The governor reported that the provincial government will also enhance the ongoing Barangay Muna program to provide more livelihood assistance to the targeted population to ensure they will have sustainable sources of livelihood.
Aside from improving the province’s ongoing livelihood program, Lacwasan committed the provincial government to also focus on improving the existing health, agriculture and tourism programs to provide adequate sources of livelihood for the people considering these are significant sources of income for people in the province.
Some parts of Mountain Province are major producers of coffee, heirloom rice, highland vegetables, among others, while other areas are major ecotourism destinations in the Cordillera.
On the other hand, Lacwasan claimed that the provincial government will also maximize the use of its limited local development funds to further improve the various infrastructure projects that will enhance the local road network leading to the various rural communities in the 10 municipalities.
He believes the improvement of the vital road networks will also contribute in spurring the economic activities in the affected areas that will contribute in improving the overall state of the local economy.
The provincial chief executive emphasized that the provincial government will also coordinate with concerned government agencies and the private sector to improve the province’s digital infrastructure for people to have internet access to provide connectivity for people to improve the productivity ability of people even while in the villages.
Lacwasan recognizes the contribution of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in providing adequate sources of livelihood for people, citing that whatever the scale of the economic activities of the people, it will have a significant contribution in improving the lives of the majority, especially those in the rural villages.
He is hopeful the province will be able to hurdle the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic as with the resilience shown by the people in the last two years.