PROV’L CAPITOL, Laoag City (Jan.23) – The provincial government has started its commitment to end hunger in Ilocos Norte with a two-day caravan of the Millennium Development Goal council.
Governor Imee Marcos had set aside P77 million from the provincial funds to end hunger through her program, “Goodbye Bisin” (goodbye hunger).
From the P77 million MDG funds, P50 million will be given to education including incentives to teachers who can improve enrolment rates, pull down drop-out rates while bringing up schoolchildrens’ NAT (National Achievement Test) scores. Some P20 million was allocated to child and maternal health.
The governor also adopted a reward system through the “MDG challenge” by setting aside P1 million to the town which will come out as the most improved in a year.
Ending hunger and poverty is part of Marcos’ MDG commitments which she promised last year during the birth anniversary of her father the late President Ferdinand Marcos.
The MDG, which was signed in September 2000 by member states of the United Nations including the Philippines, sets out eight goals to eliminate extreme poverty worldwide until 2015.
The caravan visited the towns of Vintar, Pasuquin, Pagudpud, Badoc, Pinili and Batac on January 15 and 16 and delivered food packs, veterinary services, agriculture and fishery services, social, health, services and insurance cards.
Provincial Social Welfare Officer Corazon Lilian Rin said the MDG services will help fulfill the government’s promise to improve living conditions among the poor.
The caravan will visit other towns classified as poor from January 22 to 23 to deliver similar services.
The MDG council is composed of provincial offices namely the Provincial Budget, Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Office of the Provincial Agriculture, Veterinary Office and the PSWD. (Cristina Arzadon – PIA Ilocos Norte)
