Pangasinan gov’t gives P3-M livelihood assistance to barangay groups

By Venus H. Sarmiento

Thursday 7th of June 2012

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN, June 7 (PIA) -- The provincial government through the Provincial Population Office distributed P3 million as livelihood assistance to at least 25 barangay groups in the province on Monday to help improve and uplift their living conditions. Ellsworth Gonzales, livelihood program officer, said most of the recipients were women groups, but those involved in animal raising consisted of male members.

The aid, in checks, ranging from P60,000 to P150,000, was given to finance the livelihood projects of beneficiaries like commodity trading, farm inputs, goat production, leather craft, and souvenir items, among others.

He said most of the groups have been enjoying the soft-loan assistance from the province for four years now.

Since 2008, the provincial government made a total of 22 releases amounting to P27.9 million for regular groups, and two releases amounting to P900,000 for goat production beneficiaries.

“Regular groups have six months loan period while goat production groups can renew their loans every year,” Gonzales explained.

He said the loan grantees have been very responsible in their loan repayment which was liberalized by the provincial government at a four percent interest rate with a rebate offer of 2.5 percent if the payments were made earlier.

The beneficiaries thanked Gov.Amado T. Espino, Jr. and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim for the opportunity to help them earn additional income through the assistance they have been getting from the province.

The program has served 221 groups and 22 micro, small, and medium enterprises equivalent to 5,693 beneficiaries over the last four years. (ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)