Laoag residents receive healthcare package

LAOAG CITY – Residents in this city particularly those living near the Padsan River where a multi-million dredging project is about to take off are now reaping the benefits of hosting a huge investment here.

Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon thanked He Sha Prime Sand and Gravel Aggregates Inc for distributing to 15 barangays the healthcare package that include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), face masks, and face shields. "I thank them especially also for giving it to the front

liners That’s what you call corporate responsibility,” said Keon in a video message posted on Tuesday.

Rodel Legaspi, a local official of the coastal village of Barangay 34-B Gabu Norte, also expressed gratitude to the company just in time when they need more PPEs and immune boosters to fight an unseen enemy.

Atty. Abby Sestoso, project manager of He Sha, said in a Viber message on Tuesday that close to PHP1.5 million worth of healthcare package which include face masks, hand sanitizers, vitamins, and anti-viral oral spray approved by the Food and Drug Administration were distributed to barangay residents as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility program.

Other front-liners including members of the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National

Police, as well as members of the media received healthcare packages.

“This is the only beginning of a so much more extensive He Sha Cares program that we have in store for the communities around our work site,” she said.

Sestoso added the company’s dredging operation along the Padsan River is expected to start before the end of the year once all documentary requirements are secured with concerned government authorities.

Backed by the Ilocos Norte government, the project aims to help solve massive siltation along the Padsan River that continues to threaten flashfloods particularly the downtown area here during heavy rains.

By extracting sand along the heavily silted river for construction use, local officials and the host communities are hopeful more benefits will be realized more than harm.