Ilocos norte: A total of 300 persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ilocos Norte received PHP6,000 each on Friday as part of the provincial government's ongoing rollout of social pensions for vulnerable sectors. The distribution covers the period from July to December this year, providing crucial financial assistance to those in need.

According to Philippines News Agency, Carolyn Domingo, the disability affairs officer of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, highlighted that the social pension initiative, which began in 2023, now supports 13,000 registered PWDs in the province. The program was revitalized under the leadership of then-Governor and now Vice Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc, who successfully allocated funds to include Ilocano PWDs among the beneficiaries.

Digna Amigo, a 64-year-old resident of Barangay Caaoacan, expressed gratitude to the provincial government for the PHP1,000 monthly pension granted to her 31-year-old son, Edmund Amigo Jr., who has a speech impairment. She emphasized the importance of this financial aid in meeting his basic needs, particularly as she and her husband are senior citizens. Similarly, Mario Antonio from Barangay La Paz, who has been receiving the pension for three years, acknowledged its role in easing his family's daily expenses.

In addition to the social pension, the Ilocos Norte government is actively implementing skills and competencies training programs to empower PWDs, encouraging productivity and independence. In August, 100 PWDs participated in a theoretical driving course and road safety seminar, aimed at improving their accessibility and involvement in community development and nation-building efforts.