PGIN raises P3M for women entrepreneurs, OFWs

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) in partnership with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the Cooperative Bank of Ilocos Norte (CBIN) raised an initial P3 million in a fund raising program. The fund is intended for the benefit of innovative women entrepreneurs and overseas Filipino workers who would like to invest in the province.

Qualified beneficiaries may avail of a maximum loan of P500,000 or a minimum of P15,000 to start up or expand an existing business here.

An applicant granted with a soft loan only needs to pay an interest rate of one percent (1%) per month or 12 percent per annum.

Launched in 2012, the inter-agency government network backed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Western Union Foundation help put up the collective remittance fund meant to provide loan package for interested applicants particularly among women and OFWs.

Collective remittances refers to the pooling of individual remittances in order to create a source of funds large and stable enough to finance meaningful investment in employment-generating activities.

In 2013, at least 12 of the 46 applicants were granted with a package loan used in hog breeding and meat processing, retail and direct selling, rice and vegetable trading and production of off-season dragon fruit through extended day-light technology.

Of the 12 initial beneficiaries of the loan project, five had already paid their loan in full.

Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos is encouraging all Ilocanos to avail of these government programs meant to provide livelihood and generate local employment in the province.

For interested applicants, they may just inquire at the provincial government, particularly at the office of the Millennium Development Goals program or at the Office of Gender and Development.

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