LAOAG CITY, Dec. 5 -- Seventeen persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ilocos Norte received early Christmas gifts on Friday, as Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos led the distribution of hearing aids to the recipients in celebration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

The hearing aids, amounting to PHP40,000 each, were funded by the Presidential Action Center, according to provincial social welfare officer Rochelle Gajes in an interview.

Aside from the initial 17 recipients, Gajes reported that they are expecting over 30 more recipients in the next batch of distribution.

Before the distribution, hearing-impaired individuals in various parts of the province underwent general hearing tests, voice tests, and ear measurement...