Ilocos Norte

To further address the impact of work displacement in the province as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), through the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO), has increased its assistance to both employers and employees in the tourism industry throughout the province by implementing an additional installment of a livelihood continuity program.

Last year, INTO redesigned its Summer Tourism Employment Program into the Tourism Livelihood Continuity Program (TLCP) to aid daily wage earners, informal workers, and freelancers in the gig industry affected by the pandemic.

"If we can recall, we had our 'pay now, work later' scheme last year. This year, we have another phase where we will support the employees of private tourism establishments. PGIN will provide partial payment of their salaries to help business owners with their financial burdens.

"This is actually an effort to ensure that employers will no longer need to lay-off their employees. We're trying to preserve businesses and keep them from closing, and we're trying to save the jobs of those who are working in the tourism industry," Mr. Xavier R. Ruiz, Officer-in-Charge of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office, expressed.

A total of 1,250 beneficiaries from around 300 tourism establishments in the province will be working for 10 days under the supervision of their employers, and will receive a salary amounting to P4,000.

Over 2,000 restaurant workers, travel and tour staff, senior citizen tour guides, accommodation staff, destination workers, vendors of local product, souvenir makers, events and freelance artist, heritage artisans, and other workers in the tourism and cultural sectors have been assisted through the TLCP since it was launched last year.