LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Jan. 15 (PNA)–Funds from the provincial government continue to cascade down to the grassroots when Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. again distributed Php 3.085 million worth of livelihood assistance to at least 17 cooperatives, three micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and two livestock raisers associations in different parts of the province.
The first recipients were MSMEs, represented by their respective presidents and treasurers, who received their livelihood assistance when they called on the governor at the provincial capitol on Jan. 13.
Under the livelihood program of the provincial government, a total of Php 48.36-million assistance from the trust fund of the province was released to sustain the Livelihood Assistance project of the provincial government since October 2008.
“I wish you all the best in your livelihood ventures and may you strive to level up the living conditions of your members through upgrading the capabilities of your cooperatives and associations,” the governor said.
Espino was assisted by Provincial Population Office (PPO) Officer-in-Charge Ellsworth Gonzales and PPO Consultant Luzviminda Muego in distributing the livelihood assistance.
The first batch of beneficiaries with a total of 486 members, most of whom are women, is engaged in commodity trading and farm inputs, rice retailing and goat breeding, production and trading.
The 17 cooperative beneficiaries include the Victorious Women’s Association (Bautista), Cablong KALIPI Association (Pozorrubio), Cabulalaan KALIPI Women’s Association (Laoac), San Ramon KALIPI Women’s Association (Manaoag), Lelemaan Credit Cooperative (Manaoag), Nagkaisa Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Asingan);
Organic Pares-Pares Multi-Purpose Cooperative (San Nicolas), “C2” Ambayoan Irrigators Association (San Nicolas), Hacienda Women’s Association (Bugallon), Buer Rural Women’s Association (Aguilar), Dorongan Punta KALIPI Association (Mangatarem); and
Sonson Ongkit KALIPI Association (Mangatarem); Malabobo KALIPI Association (Mangatarem), Centro Toma-Colayo Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Bani), San Pedro Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Mabini), Pangasinan Women’s Development, Inc. (Sta. Barbara) and Aliaga Farmers Association (Malasiqui).
For the MSME, beneficiaries are: Marieta’s Prawns and Crabs Dealer (Dasol), North Western Agro Business (Sual) and Bartolome’s Souvenir Shop (Alaminos City).
Two groups – Dasol Livestock Raisers Association and Asingan Sheep and Goat Raisers Association (ASGRA), Inc. – received livelihood assistance in support of the Goat Production Project of the province
OIC Provincial Veterinarian Eric Jose Perez said that to increase goat production, the provincial government provides buck (male goat) to breeders and raisers in Pangasinan.
Perez said that Pangasinan was leading in goat production in Region 1 and this, according to him, is attributed to the enhanced goat production capabilities of goat raisers who participate in the Farmers Livestock School Program of the provincial government. (PNA)