Ilocos Norte is actually very close to what the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) is trying to achieve which is to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger, said Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman.

In a media forum held at the Plaza del Norte, Laoag City, Secretary Soliman claimed that Ilocos Norte is not qualified enough for the poverty reduction programs of the DSWD having 9.2% poverty incidence.

With the all-out support of the Provincial Government, Governor Imee R. Marcos really appreciates the poverty reduction programs being implemented by the DSWD in the said province.

According to her, DSWD programs and services especially the Conditional Cash Transfer or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is very effective because of the beneficiaries’ conscious utilization of their cash grants as what the program conditionalities require.

Gov. Marcos also believes in the localization of DSWD’s programs and services through convergence strategy with all local government units for the poor to stay out from poverty and strategize sustainability.

Since Ilocos Norte is known with its scenic views and famous tourist destinations, she also supports the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) through financial assistance to all those souvenir makers.

Out of the 247,882 identified poor households in Region 1, 10% or 24,890 are from Ilocos Norte and all of them have already been reached out by DSWD programs and services together with the Provincial Government. (by: Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, Administrative Assistant III, Listahanan/NHTS-PR).