Ilocos gov’t gives cash to NGOs, coops, groups

By Joyah Mae C. Quimoyog

VIGAN CITY -- The provincial government of Ilocos Sur, under its financial assistance for livelihood projects program, awarded cash assistance to various non-government organizations (NGOs), associations, and cooperatives in the province in a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol, Vigan City recently.
    A total of Php 4.2 million financial assistance was given to 22 beneficiaries which shall be used for the implementation of their project proposals submitted to the office of Governor Ryan Luis V. Singson, according to Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Aida Tolio.
    Thirteen of the said beneficiaries proposed livelihood projects on micro lending, while other associations proposed various projects like cattle fattening, goat raising, provision of cooperative building facility, furniture making, bigasan, cacao production processing, swine fattening, construction of cooperative building, and palay trading.
    Since 2015, a total of 102 NGOs, associations, and cooperatives have benefitted in this program, said PPDO-OIC Tolio.
    She added that the PPD office will monitor the implementation of each project and program to assure that they all put the assistance to good use.
    In his message, Gov. Singson said that the provincial government gives importance to all sectors especially with the onset of COVID-19 where many people  have lost jobs and their livelihood.
    "Ginagawa ng provincial government ang lahat ng aming makakaya upang makatulong sa lahat ng mga residente ng ating probinsiya at itong livelihood program ay isa sa mga priority assistance na i-implement natin lalo ngayong may kinakaharap tayong pandemya. Malaking tulong ito sa inyong lahat, nawa’y gamitin niyo ang mga pondong ito sa mga proyekto na inyong ipinasa sa aming opisina upang mas umunlad pa ang inyong pamumuhay,” Gov. Singson said. (JCR/VHS/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)