VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — Some four local government units in the province received post-pandemic support of P1 million and plaque from the provincial government for their proposed projects.

This is through the One Ilocos Sur Spring Development Grant where the LGUs, namely the city of Vigan and municipalities of Sinait, Quirino and Sigay were chosen.

The Sigay town, whose project Kape de Kariton befits their native Mabini Ubuan- master coffee grower, featured their One Town One Product (OTOP) which is the internationally-acclaimed Robusta Coffee.

Ubuan, who is also a Father Jose Burgos Awardee during the Pammadayaw 2023 held on Feb. 13- the same day the grant was conferred at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center, shared his joy for the support of the provincial and municipal officials.

“Sa totoo lang talagang nagpapasalamat kami sa probinsya at sa LGU dahil binigyan nila kami ng kagamitan para mapabilis ang pag-giling namin ng produktong kape. Sana hindi sila magsawa sa pagsuporta sa industriya,” Mr. Ubuan said.

Dubbed as the “Coffee Capital of Ilocos Sur”, the Sigay town proposed the mobile coffee station offering locally grown coffee beans to the local and international market.

Mayor Carlo Crisanto Peredo expressed his gratitude for the support, “We are grateful, the whole of Sigay town, for yet another award from the provincial government. This project, the Kape de Kariton, will be served during events and celebrations similar to a mobile coffee shop.”

It can be recalled that in the last quarter of the past year, LGUs were invited to submit their proposals by January 2023.

“With the very intent of ONE Ilocos Sur to recover from the adversities, the ONE Ilocos Sur Spring Development Grant was launched last December 1, 2022 to provide support to youth organizations and LGUs to empower their entrepreneurial and corporate mandate providing employment, livelihood and business to the people and the LGU itself,” provincial administrator Marlon Tagorda said during his welcome message at the awards night.

The proposals were screened and the proponents underwent mentoring and coaching from acclaimed coaches.

Moreover, the projects were judged based on innovativeness, social impact, utility and replicability. (JCR/MJTAB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)