The provincial government has launched the ‘Pamanang Yaman, Produktong Pangasinan’ project that aims to help the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and promote native products.

In an interview on Monday, Ma. Luisa Elduayan, Provincial Tourism, and Cultural Affairs officer, said the launching is part of the ‘Abig (heal) Pangasinan’ livelihood project wherein the provincial government will buy products from MSMEs in the different towns and cities of the province and these will be sold also in the province.

“This is for the MSMEs in the province who are producing native Pangasinan products. They are those who are also promoting our province. Many of them have stopped production and some have laid-off their employees since they have no market as there were no trade fairs and tourists,” she said.

With the project, Elduayan said, the provincial government led by Governor Amado Espino III hopes to revive their businesses.

“Their products will be sold at cost to the different towns and cities of the province,” she added.

The first stop of the Pamanang Yaman, Produktong Pangasinan truck was in this city.

Espino earlier urged Pangasinenses to patronize the products.

“This is to encourage economic movement among citizens. We should help one another. If you have extra cash to spare, buy local products instead,” he said.

Espino said this will also help in preserving the culture of the province through each town or city’s native food or handicraft.

“We will bring the puto Calasiao to Urdaneta City, or we would be able to buy Alaminos longganisa without going to Alaminos City as the truck will bring it to the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, the provincial government earlier launched the Abig (heal) Pangasinan livelihood project to improve the socio-economic condition in the province amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

The livelihood project is comprised of two components –Kabuhayan Palengke Karaban, and the Karagdagang Pangkabuhayan (cash for work).

“Kabuhayan Palengke Karaban is an all-year activity to uplift the income of Pangasinense farmers, fisherfolks, and animal farm growers. The provincial government will buy products offered by small vendors, such as vegetables, meat, and others. All sold commodities from this program will be brought to the 14 provincial government-run hospitals to be served as meals for patients,” Espino said.

The Karagdagang Pangkabuhayan aims to provide additional financial capacity to different sectors by working in a community project that would benefit the public, particularly persons with disabilities (PWDs) with cash incentives of PHP400 each, he added. (PNA)