Ilocos Norte’s provincial government, through its Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Office (MSMEO), continues to empower businesses with the rollout of a stimulus package to help improve the lives of entrepreneurs and their families.

On Thursday, 111 MSME beneficiaries received PHP5,000 each, for a total of PHP555,000, as part of the final tranche of the ongoing livelihood assistance program to help small business owners and start-ups grow their operations this year.

On July 24, the same beneficiaries received their initial release of PHP5,000, intended to support their operations amid rising living costs.

For Ronalyn Valdez, a sari-sari store owner from Sarrat town, the cash assistance she received from the provincial government was a “big help” in keeping her business going.

She said her small business had been “on and off” due to lack of capital.

“Thank you to the provincial government of Ilocos Norte for this big help to small business owners,” she said, adding that it is becoming more difficult to sustain a small sari-sari store these days.

“The amount I received will be used to add more capital to my daily business operation,” said Lilibeth Acosta, a snack vendor in Bacarra town.

In 2025, MSMEO supported 569 beneficiaries.

Since the program’s rollout during the pandemic, MSMEO head Elma Gabriel said the program continues to prioritize small-scale businesses engaged in manufacturing, handicrafts, retail, and services, owned by women, poverty-stricken individuals, the elderly, and physically challenged individuals.

Interested applicants can apply for cash aid at the Ilocos Norte MSME Incubation Center on the second floor of La Tabacalera, or through their local government coordinator. (PNA)