As one of the lead agencies in Ilocos Norte’s COVID-19 rehabilitation efforts, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) through the initiative of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc distributed loan grants to its first batch of recipients in Dumalneg town, last August 20.
21 micro and small business entrepreneurs have received Php 5,000.00 each, with zero interest and collateral under the Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) and payable within a year.
According to Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Mrs. Corazon Lilian Rin, PGIN chose Dumalneg as the pilot town since it has the highest number of applicants interested in either establishing or expanding their businesses.
Considering the difficulty of accessing public transportation due to the municipality’s inward location, Mrs. Rin added that Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc has allowed the team to bring assistance in the town so the recipients would not need to travel to the city.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Evangeline Bitanga Daquioag, President of Talek ken Regta (Trust and Joy) Association and a poultry egg supplier in Dumalneg, has extended her gratitude to the Provincial Government for choosing her town as the pilot recipient of the SEAP for COVID-19 Rehabilitation.
“Dakkel ti pagyamananmi iti Govierno Provinsial pati ken nangnangruna ti ama ti probinsyatayo a ni Gob Matthew Manotoc ta ti ili a Dumalneg iti napiliyo nga umuna a makaawat daytoy a programa. Gapu daytoy mapaspasarantayo a krisis, dakami a babassit nga agtagilako ket kasapulanmi ti pangnayonmi ti puunan nga agserbi ti pamiliami iti inaldaw-aldaw.”
[We are very grateful to the Provincial Government, especially to our Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, for choosing our town as the first recipient of SEAP. As owners of small businesses, we need extra capital to support our daily needs and keep up with this pandemic.]
As of January 2020, SEAP has served almost 1,500 small business entrepreneurs.—Blessing Angel V. Agliam, PGIN-CMO
