Ilocos Norte – Thirty villages near the Bislak River in Ilocos Norte have received almost PHP3 million in livelihood aid from Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. The aid is part of the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative linked to the Bislak River dredging project.
According to Philippines News Agency, Barangay San Nicolas village chief Paul Anthony Dalere expressed gratitude for the support, which includes livestock and other resources aimed at boosting local production. The aid comes as a welcome addition to the dredging of the river, which is expected to help mitigate flooding in the region. Ilocos Norte provincial administrator Yvette Convento-Leynes explained that the CSR projects were identified by officials of the recipient villages, focusing on various forms of support including livestock, fishery resources, medical supplies, and environmental conservation efforts.
The dredging project, sanctioned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is a ten-year initiative starting at the mouth of the Bislak River in Bacarra and extending 26 kilometers upstream to Vintar town. It is expected to yield significant benefits for the local communities, including a share of the revenue from the extraction of minerals. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc emphasized the project's role in boosting local livelihoods and contributing to the province's development.