About 4,914 village workers in this city and several municipalities received on Wednesday PHP19.56 million worth of cash aid as a Christmas gift from the provincial government while Noche Buena packages were given to poor families.

Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc led the distribution of the PHP4,000 cash aid to village workers from this city and the towns of Vintar, Bacarra, Nueva Era, and Banna.

“The amount is a big help to augment our expenses this holiday season,” said Karen Lucas, a village treasurer of Barangay 5 San Pedro, this city.

Every year, Ilocos Norte’s provincial government extends Yuletide assistance to village workers – health workers, nutrition scholars, child development workers, and service point officers, including Punong Barangay (village chief), kagawad (village council members), secretary, and treasurer – as a way of thanking them for their contribution in serving the community.

Punong Barangay Manny Morales of Barangay 1 San Lorenzo said the government’s token of gratitude has continued to inspire village workers like him to be of service to his constituents.

Aside from the continuing distribution of Yuletide financial assistance to the workers, Noche Buena (Christmas Eve food) packages are also given to poor families under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the government.

The first batch of beneficiaries who received longganisa (pork sausage), egg, and dressed chicken, consisted of 54 families in the MDG program, 140 indigent senior citizens, and 70 persons with disabilities in the municipalities of Banna and Nueva Era.

A total of 630 preschoolers also received school supplies and 88 farmers were given fertilizers.

In his speech during the distribution, Manotoc thanked the village workers for their selfless dedication to public service, enjoining other beneficiaries to avail of various government services and programs meant to improve their quality of life.

“If you need anything, just let us know and we will do our best to provide for you,” he said.

Based on the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Ilocos Norte ranks fifth nationwide as the fastest-growing economy and the least poor province in the provincial category this year. (PNA)