Gov. Espino awards start-up capital to SSI

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. awarded start-up assistance worth P820,000 to various women’s groups and small-scale industries under the Livelihood Assistance Program of the Provincial Government last March 9 at the Governor’s Office inside the Capitol Building.

Gov. Espino said this now brings the total amount of loan releases facilitated by the province to P18M worth of livelihood assistance to women’s groups and corporations.

According to Ellsworth Gonzales, livelihood assistance program head of the Provincial Population Office, the goal of the program is to give assistance, like loans, as a startup capital for small-scale industries (SSI).

This augmentation measure will in turn generate additional income and employment that will give the beneficiaries of additional purchasing power for better access to basic commodities like food, clothing, shelter and education.

Gonzales also added that they are usually targeting women’s groups to translate their idle time into something productive. Farmers are also prioritized so they could avail of loans with lower interest rate instead of going to loan sharks.

The livelihood associations availed of loan amounts ranging from P60,000 to P170,000.

The credit assistance provided by the province through PPO can be availed of with 4% interest in six months. However, a rebate of 2.5% will be given to the associations in case of payments made before the due date.

The program also caters to those involved in retailing, production, trading and animal raising.

The recipients of this month’s assistance program were Payar Women’s Association, Pangasinan United Farmers MPC, Don Montano Garments Craft Association, Inc., Quintinians MPC, Saint Paschal Baylon MPC and Rangtay ti Rang-ay MPC. (PIO/Darwin Magalong)

Gov. Espino Leads Provincial Actors for 1st Danggoan Cultural Show on Feb. 11

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and wife Priscilla will lead provincial government's department heads, chiefs of hospitals and some employees to the first ever Danggoan cultural and musical show entitled: "Asin ed Asinan" to promote culture and arts of Pangasinan.

Asin ed Asinan is a full theatrical production in Pangasinan to be staged at the elegant Sison Auditorium on February 9-11.

The 'Danggoan na Pangasinan' is a group of government officials that plans, creates and carries out programs that promote Pangasinan culture and arts .

Danggoan is a Pangasinan word which means stage.

Mr. Raul "Insyong" Tamayo incharge of the production said "this is the first- ever full length cultural show and musical that is produced by the Provincial Government."

"Asin ed Asinan the musical, is a fusion of pure Pangasinan culture and cultures of Spanish, American and Chinese which influenced how Pangasinenses came to be," narrates Tamayo.

The play, that will run for less than two hours, presents Pangasinan in a whole new picture.

There will be Pangasinan songs a couple of them originally written by Tamayo himself and Ilocano pieces to represent the Ilocano culture that inextricably mixed with that of Pangasinan.

Historical dances like the Kalatong (a dance using bamboo sticks), Wasiwas ( native dance by wives of fishermen waving lamps in the seashore while waiting for their husbands and their catch) and Sayaw ed Tapew na Bangko (dance atop a bench) will also be part of the show.

Tamayo said that the biggest challenge in putting up this big theatrical performance is utilizing non-actors and non-actresses to perform on stage for the first time.

"Our talents, totaling to about 120 people from the performers to the props men and directors are mostly provincial employees" he said.

Even the department heads have a part in the show.

"The first two days of the show will be for the students and provincial employees.

We are expecting more than two thousand spectators.

But on February 11, on the Gala Night, we are expecting lesser and selected crowd.

There will be cocktails, fashion show by various LGU officials and some of the Provincial Board Members," said Ms. Marife Acerit, Pangasinan’s Head of Special Events.

Governor Espino and the first family will be part of the gala night and the governor is expected to dance with his wife, the "Imunan" – a traditional lovers dance which is a favorite of the governor.

For ticket inquiries, you may call the Special Events Office (075)542-5584.

New Livelihood Assistance to 6 Women’s Groups

The provincial government thru the Provincial Population Office has released a total of P512,000 worth of checks yesterday, January 20, to six women associations and cooperatives from various towns in Pangasinan under its Livelihood Assistance Program.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., who led the distribution, encouraged the beneficiaries to use the money wisely and make their associations and cooperatives prosper.

Meanwhile, Luzviminda Muego, Provincial Population Officer and Livelihood Assistance Program head, said that the loan assistance aims to assists various women groups and cooperatives in the province to become more self-sufficient thru commodity trading, farm inputs and cooperative relending.

Muego said that the successful implementation of the program has propelled the provincial government to further intensify the project so that more beneficiaries can avail of the loan assistance which offers minimal interest rate per annum.

“So far, our beneficiaries have good credit standing that’s why the Governor is keen to continue and to intensify the program to cater to the needs of more women associations as well as cooperatives in the province,” Muego added.

The recipients of the 7^th batch of livelihood assistance for 2010 are: Sampaguita SEA-K (Bocboc East, Aguilar), CBN Women’s Association (Mangatarem), Batakil Credit Cooperative (Pozorrubio), Cauayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Umingan), and Lipay Rice Producers Cooperative (Umingan).