The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, through the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Office, led the distribution of “COVID-19 Recovery Assistance” and “Mataginayon a Progreso Assistance” to over 300 Ilokano entrepreneurs at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on January 5.
298 sari-sari store owners from the municipalities of Nueva Era, Adams, Pinili, Marcos, Pagudpud, and Currimao received Php 3,000 worth of groceries, while 30 “Mataginayon a Progreso” received Php 3,000 in cash.
“Ang gusto po talaga namin ay mas sustainable, kumbaga kaya niyo na kase wala na tayo sa pandemya mode, move on na tayo. And of course, nandito pa rin kami to support all our sari-sari store owners and micro, small businesses, and ambulant vendors,” Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc said at the distribution.
He also stated that the program’s goal is to assist MSME owners to expand and profit more, and he hoped that MSME owners would have more opportunities and feel more comfortable in Ilocos Norte.
In December last year, 500 beneficiaries also received the same assistance from the PGIN-MSME Office. The office is also preparing the grant for almost 50 recipients as of this writing. (Mariell Pahinag)
(Source: Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte – Communications & Media Office)