By Rachel Magday
NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Another 69 couples in Nueva Vizcaya who have been married for 50 years or more received P50,000 each from the provincial government under its Enduring Devotion Ordinance, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 681 and the total disbursement to P34.05 million since the program was implemented.
The latest distribution, totaling P3.45 million, was held yesterday at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center and was led by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Flordelina C. Granada.
Granada said the recipients make up the 12th batch of beneficiaries of the program, which covers qualified couples from the different municipalities of the province.
Granada added that the provincial government is continuously processing applications for the incentive, noting that another P10 million has been allocated to accommodate additional 2025 applications, an amount enough to cover 200 more qualified couples.
Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito said the provincial government remains committed to sustaining the initiative, which he described as a tribute to couples who have shown enduring love and commitment.
“We have already disbursed more than P30 million for this program. This is a significant amount, and while it could have been used for many other projects, I do not mind because this is more than a financial reward. It is the provincial government’s way of recognizing your lasting commitment, sacrifices and devotion to one another,” Gambito said.
He said he hopes the program will inspire younger couples to nurture their relationships and remain committed to keeping their families intact.
Gambito also reiterated his observation that many troubled children come from broken families, stressing the importance of strong and stable family relationships.
Notably, Gov. Gambito and his wife, Beth, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary making the program personally meaningful for the governor as the province continues to honor couples who have reached the same milestone.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the provincial government, saying the cash assistance would help them meet their daily expenses, particularly the purchase of maintenance medicines.
The Enduring Devotion Ordinance, authored by then Board Member Patricio F. Dumlao Jr., grants P50,000 to couples who have been married for 50 years or more.The ordinance aims to recognize and honor couples who have stood the test of time and who serve as role models for younger generations.
