Despite controversies hounding the rice sector of the country, the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) thru the Municipality of Binalonan rendered financial assistance to selected members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) as capital to start their rice micro-business.

The distribution, held July 18 at the Office of Mayor Ramon V Guico III, was headed by Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Marlyn Embat and DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Provincial Coordinator Ronald Gabriel.

They awarded the two checks amounting to P 800,000 to Francisco Acosta and Marissa Aban, presidents of Bagong Pag-asa and Sama-Sama sa Pag-unlad, respectively.

The two presidents were accompanied by their treasurers Leony Salvador and Dana Romano.

Present during the awarding of the checks were Municipal Accountant Lorna Carissa Orpilla, Secretary to the Mayor Evangeline Acuar, SB Secretary Janet Flores, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Engineer Elizabeth Aquino, DSWD Binalonan Staff Jeny Rose Ochoco and Rose Ann Paragas.

Selected beneficiaries were from Poblacion, Canarvacanan, Capas, Cili, Mangcasuy, Moreno, Pasileng, Pasileng Norte, San Felipe Sur, San Felipe Central, San Pablo, Sumabnit, and Vacante.

Under the SLP of the DSWD, LGU Binalonan has already given starter kits for hog and goat raising, capital for sari-sari stores for selected beneficiaries and has provided scholarships for out-of-school youth for trainings on housekeeping and computer programming.