All cities and towns of Ilocos Norte will implement the Php 5 million-worth projects on planting mangrove, forest trees, fruit trees, and bamboo and production of bamboo planting materials starting on the last week of May 2015.

With these projects, community safety is assured through the rehabilitation of facilities and structures with the goal of minimizing the impact of any disaster that might hit the province.

These projects will also increase temporary employment of 5,558 poor individuals (Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, LISTAHANAN-identified poor, Typhoon Mario victims in 2014). Each will be paid a minimum wage of Php 180.00 a day following DSWD’s Cash for Work Program scheme.

These projects are timely. As Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Lillian Rin said, the Province’s mountainous and coastal areas make it vulnerable to hazards caused by natural calamities especially on rainy season and drought spell. With this, Gov. Imee Marcos intensified conservation and reservation of watersheds through reforestation and regreening projects.

Also, with said funds, the Provincial Government’s commitment to rehabilitate severely denuded/damaged areas will be strengthened with the additional manpower and resources.

The implementation and monitoring will be spearheaded by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Millennium Development Goals Office led by Edwin Cariño, and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office led by Estrella Sacro.

The said funds will be disbursed by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and liquidated accordingly with strict adherence to the policies of the Commission on Audit. (by: Iryn D. Cubangbang, Information Officer II)