Gov. Espino awards livelihood aid to 22 cooperatives, MSMEs

48.36M livelihood assistance released since 2008

Lingayen -- The financial support of the provincial government continues to cascade down to the grassroots level as Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. led the distribution of Php3.085 million-worth livelihood assistance to17 cooperatives, three micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and two livestock raisers associations in the province.

             The first batch of livelihood beneficiaries this year -- represented by the presidents and treasurers of the cooperatives and proprietors of MSMEs -- paid a courtesy call on Governor Espino on January 13 at the Governor’s Office here.

            Since October 2008, a total of Php48.36M livelihood aid from the trust fund of the province was released to sustain the Livelihood Assistance project of the provincial government.

“I wish you all the best on 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 as he vowed for constant support to the beneficiaries of the livelihood assistance project.

             

Governor Espino was assisted by Provincial Population Office (PPO) OIC Ellsworth Gonzales and PPO Consultant Luzviminda Muego during the distribution of livelihood checks.

The first batch of livelihood assistance beneficiaries with a total of 486 members, most of whom are women, engages in commodity trading and farm inputs, NFA rice retailing and goat breeding, production and trading.

The 17 beneficiary cooperative groups include: 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), 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 goat breeders and raisers in Pangasinan.

Perez disclosed that Pangasinan is 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.

/MGNO