While some people believe that government assistance is only temporary, two entrepreneurs in Albay province are proving that short-term aid can also yield long-term rewards.
Piggery owner Vinia Flores and baker Roldan Capariño, both from Daraga town, said their lives were transformed when they availed of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Flores, 54, of Barangay Miisi never thought that she would be the owner of a piggery business.
As somebody who has lived with her family within Mayon Volcano’s extended danger zone, life has always been a struggle.
“It’s really hard when Mayon erupts. We always have to evacuate. Our livelihood is affected. Every time we evacuate, we face so many challenges,” Flores said in the vernacular.
But life took a dramatic turn in 2023 when the government provided assistance after ordering decampment when Mayon showed decreasing signs of restiveness.
“The government’s assistance has made a significant impact on our lives. We received help from the DSWD in the form of family food packs and cash assistance amounting to PHP12,000 on two separate payouts,” she narrated. “We also received PHP20,000 from the SLP.”
Coming from a family of tenant farmers, Flores said she used the seed capital to expand her vegetable farm to include beans, chili and “patani” (lima beans).
At about the same time, she also tried her hand at the piggery business by initially buying three piglets.
Through their earnings from the vegetable farm, the family was able to expand the land that they till, which now totals five hectares.
“Right now, I have six piglets. I also earned PHP64,000 for selling the piglets in just three months,” she enthused.
“The assistance we received has been invaluable. Without the SLP, our situation would still be dire, but thanks to the support we received, we were able to make a significant investment,” she proudly said.
Livelihood upgrade
Capariño, 46, had always wanted to be a bakery owner for as long as he can remember.
But the lack of financial capital only allowed him a meager income selling bread, which he gets from a local bakery.
“The bakery business was inspired by my knowledge of baking. So, when I received the PHP20,000 from the SLP, I decided to pursue my dream,” he said in the vernacular.
Capariño said the grant he received played a crucial role in acquiring the oven needed for the business.
“Previously, the income from selling bread was just enough to get by, and sometimes there was no income at all, so it was really challenging,” he recalled.
“But now that I own the bakery, it’s more comfortable. Before, my income was around PHP12,000 from selling bread, and now I earn around PHP40,000 a month,” he proudly shared.
“The SLP has been a huge help. Government assistance is important in improving one’s life. All it needs is proper planning and utilization to make a significant difference in one’s life,” he said. (PNA)
