Lingayen- – -Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III awarded a total of P4.2 million worth of livelihood assistance checks to some 31 women groups, farmers associations and cooperatives from various towns in the province on September 27 at the Urduja House.
The distribution, which is under the regular livelihood assistance program (LAP) of the provincial government, is the first batch to be awarded under the leadership of Gov. Pogi.
It can be recalled that former governor now 5th district representative Amado T. Espino, Jr. launched LAP in 2008 as one of the strategic projects of his administration to transform Pangasinense women or housewives into productive members of society.
Since then, the program was expanded to include other groups and associations like farmers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
The total amount distributed by the past administration has amounted to P70.16 million.
Meanwhile, Gov. Pogi, just like his father, reminded the beneficiaries to make use of the funds productively.
The first batch of regular LAP beneficiaries under Gov. Pogi’s tenure are as follows: Gueset Golden Harvest (Bugallon); Farmers of Buenlag Bugallon Association, Inc.; Luyan Mapandan Farmers Association; Aramal KALIPI Association (San Fabian); Alcala Onion Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Small Scale Irrigation System-Farmers Field School Barangay San Pedro III Farmers Association ( Alcala); Barangay Bersamin Farmers and Entrepreneurs Association, Inc. (Alcala); Balungao Agricultural Farmers Association; Volunteer Probation Aide Association of Pangasinan District 5 (VPA), Inc.; Agat KALIPI Association (Sison); Flores Multi-Purpose Association (San Manuel); Ataynan Farmers Association (Bayambang); Dalongue IA Credit Cooperative (Sta. Barbara); Great David Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc. (Mangaldan); Inmalog Sur KALIPI Association (San Fabian); Eastern Binalonan Multi-Purpose Cooperative; San Quintin OFW Family Association; Capitan Tomas Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Rosales); Sta. Maria Mango Growers and Handlers Association ; Dasol market Vendors Association; Buer Rural Women’s Association (Buer); Rangtay Ti Panagdur-as Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Balungao); D’Highlights Agri-Business MPC (San Manuel); Dusoc Women’s Association (Bayambang); and Amamperez Women’s Association (Villasis).
Recipients under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME), on the other hand, were the following: Bajo’s Shellcraft and Souvenir Shop (Alaminos City); CBB Salt Producer (Infanta), and Cluie’s Needlecraft (Umingan).
Kadampat Goat Raisers Association of Labrador town was the lone recipient for goat production.
Amount of livelihood assistance varies from P50,000 to as high as P180,000.
Earlier, OIC Provincial Population Officer Ellsworth Gonzales said cooperatives and MSMEs are allowed for 5-10 renewals.
He added that strict monitoring on track record of the regular livelihood program is conducted by their office to see if the recipients could meet the requirements for the Pangasinan Credit Surety Fund for them to borrow bigger amount of loan. (Ruby R. Bernardino)