PGIN’s loan program beneficiary acquires own sewing machine, motor vehicle

Grace Castillo and her new sewing machine. (Alaric Yanos)

By Jennifer T. Pambid

PGIN-CMO

A few years ago, Grace Castillo and his husband used to roam around their neighborhood and nearby barangays in Bangui, Ilocos Norte to offer sewing and repair services.

According to them, they have to exert double effort in earning money because their main livelihood which comes from farming is barely enough to support their daily needs.

Mrs. Castillo, 43 years old and a resident of Brgy. Nalasin in the said town, supports five children.

After availing a loan from the Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran Program through the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), she is glad they don’t have to walk afar and use old sewing tools anymore.

She used the loan amounting to Php5,000.00 to purchase sewing materials and equipment. They were also able to acquire their own motor vehicle which they use to deliver sewn products.

“It became easier for us to earn money because we already have our own sewing machine and vehicle,” she said in Ilocano.

At present, they are also renting a space during open market in Bangui.

Having now a permanent source of income, they are able to send two of their children to college.

Recalling their struggles to earn money before, Castillo shared that they were forced to borrow money from ‘bombay 5-6’ or Indian moneylenders offering instant money with large interest rate.

“The loan program was a great help to us. We thank the provincial government and Governor Imee Marcos for giving opportunity to people like us who do not have any source of capital to start or expand a business,” she added.

Through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, PGIN’s Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran Program offers loan assistance to small business entrepreneurs with zero interest and collateral. The amount is payable in one year.

ILOCOS Norte Governor Imee Marcos leads the distribution of loan assistance to women entrepreneurs from the different towns and cities in Ilocos Norte. (Alaric Yanos)

It is part of the provincial government’s goal to improve the local economy and uplift Ilocano lives by providing livelihood and other income-generating opportunities to disadvantaged families.

Comments

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel...

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi...

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog