Gov. Pogi awards P2-M worth of livelihood aid
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Governor Amado ‘Pogi’ I. Espino III awarded a total of more than P2 million worth of livelihood assistance to 17 cooperatives, farmers associations, women’s groups and micro, small and medium enterprise on May 15 at the Ceremonial Hall of the Urduja House.
The distribution which is part of the provincial government’s regular livelihood assistance program is the second batch to be awarded this year.
It can be recalled that the livelihood assistance program was launched in 2008 during the term of the governor’s father, former governor and now 5th district representative Amado T. Espino, Jr., designed to transform Pangasinense women to become self-sufficient. Since then, the program was enhanced to involve not only women but other groups like farmers and fisherfolks, among others.
Second batch of recipients for this year are as follows: Natividad Pangasinan Marketing Cooperative (Natividad), Aragaag Farmers Awisa, Inc. (Asingan), Turko Kalipi Women’s Association (Laoac)’ Grain Growers of San Felipe Central Farmers Association, Inc. (Binalonan), Rural Improvement Club Federation of Sta. Barbara (Sta. Barbara), Happy Mothers Association (Mabini), BOMADUS ARC Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Labrador)’ Muelang Kalipi Association (Mangatarem)’ Otso Tres Farmers Entrepreneur Association, Inc. (Alcala)’ Lingayen OF/W Family Association (Lingayen), Balungao Agricultural Farmers Association (Balungao), Agat Kalipi Association (Sison), Nanbagatanan Kalipi Women’s Association (Binalonan), Eastern Binalonan MPC (Binalonan), Rangtay Ti Panagdur-as MPC (Natividad), Holy Seed Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Balungao) and Mang Ador’s Frozen Foods (Mangaldan).
With the exception of Mang Ador’s Frozen Foods which is classified as MSME and engaged in the production of frozen foods and meat products, all other groups/associations are into farm inputs and commodity trading.
Meanwhile, Provincial Population Officer Ellsworth Gonzales noted that 10 of the recipients are newly formed groups thus it is their first time to avail of the soft loan. Amounts of loan varies from P50,000 (for the MSME), P100,000 for the first-timers, and P150,000 up to P180,000 for renewed loans. (Ruby R. Bernardino)