Ilocos Norte gives fund aid to 333 b’gay volunteers amid COVID-19

By Freddie Lazaro

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The provincial government of Ilocos Norte, through its Gender and Development (GAD) Office, has given financial assistance to volunteer-barangay workers in the province.

                This was in addition to the Ilocos Norte provincial government’s numerous initiatives to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Ilocos Norte’s “Financial Assistance to Barangay Population Volunteers Program” was the first financial assistance program by the provincial GAD office to assist barangay volunteers as they cope with the pandemic.

              “Naisipan namin silang (barangay population volunteers) bigyan ng kaunting tulong kasi hindi naman lahat ng mga barangay workers dito sa probinsiya ay nabibigyan ng honorarium. Alam naman natin na nagsilbi rin silang mga frontliners at malaki rin ang naitulong sa ating mga barangay lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemic,” Provincial GAD Officer Janet London said.

A total of 333 recipients from the towns of Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Vintar, Piddig, Sarrat, Nueva Era, Pinili, Currimao, and Paoay were qualified to receive P1,500 each from the said program.

At present, volunteers from Nueva Era, Vintar, and Piddig have received their cash, simultaneous with the distribution of stipends for provincial scholars.

The provincial government, through the leadership of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, has also initiated various efforts such as “NariMAT nga Aglawlaw Cash-for-Work Program” for daily wage earners, Delivery Service program for youth, “Saguip Mangagawa Program” for employers and employees, and several Livelihood Continuity Program for tourism industry and other displaced workers in the province, to cushion the economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic.