DSWD_2nd issue-x

DSWD - CAR
Indigent families open “mini grocery” in Apayao
Pudtol, Apayao- In unity there is strength.
This is a quotation which has been proven many
times, from the liberation of a country to the fall
of an empire. This can also be exemplified in the
Province of Apayao which is a province rich in
culture and natural resources but is burdened with
one of the deadliest battles of this era – POVERTY.
While some are comfortably resting in
their sofas, drinking cups of expensive coffee, or
bragging about their expensive watch, there are
people who sit on the ground, who could not
gamble their time to rest just to eat three times a
day, or those whose only way of knowing time is by
the movement of the sun. Some families in Apayao
experience the latter.
Small Dreams
The Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program
members in Pudtol, Apayao realized the
importance of having a sustainable livelihood
project that someday can help increase their
income and directly help them to meet their
basic needs. In 2014, 387 individuals from these
Pantawid families formed a federation known as
Sustainable Livelihood Program Federation (SLP
Federation).
The Federation came up with a proposal to
establish a Grocery Store and Agricultural Farm
Supply. And this was made possible with the
assistance of the Sustainable Livelihood Program
(SLP).
“Noong una, nag decide kami na mag buo ng
federation para makatulong sa monitoring ng SLP
projects na individually managed kasi that time,
wala kaming Project Development Officer”, SLP
Federation President Susan Cabusi shared.
However, the group noticed the high demand
for grocery and agricultural farm supply in the
area especially during pay-outs. With that, the
federation came to the idea of setting up a Grocery
and Agricultural Farm Supply Store.
“Ang main purpose po talaga kung bakit kami
nag-decide na magkaroon ng grocery store ay dahil
nakita namin na instead of private merchandisers
and makinabang sa pera ng Pantawid beneficiaries,
pwede namang Pantawid uli ang makinabang
doon at para magkaroon ng mas magaan-gaan na
bilihan ang mga Pantawid [Pamilya] households
kaya mababa rin yung markup namin sa mga
bilihin dito”, Susan added.
Mini steps to make the dream to reality
The SLP Federation aimed to reduce the
number of individuals caught in the poverty line
by creating sustainable livelihood using their
group fund. This group fund came from the
P500.00 capital share, P20.00 membership fee and
P20.00 annual due.
On 25 July 2016, the Federation is able to
open the Grocery and Agricultural Farm Supply
The Social Focus
Store. With the initial capital share of 193,660.00,
the store is now established near the Municipal
Capitol of Pudtol. The grocery sells frozen foods,
grocery products, agricultural supplies and SLP
products.
Aside from the low markup, customers of the
store are given additional discounts and patronage
refund.
“After two years of operations po, lahat ng
Pantawid members ay magkakaroon ng patronage
refund. Yung mga hindi naman po Pantawid
members, binibigyan naman po namin sila ng
discount at freebies”, Susan said.
Bigger dreams for the mini grocery
While others dream of having a six foot three
gleaming red Ferrari, the SFP Federation’s dream is
to have a tricycle to transport goods to barangays
where trucks are unable to go. The federation also
plans to construct small stores on upper barangays
to sell the products from the grocery.
“Kailangan din po sana namin yung tricycle
para magamit na pang-deliver sa mga barabarangay
dahil target din
naming na magkaroon
ng branch sa mga remote
barangays para mas
accessible din para sa mga
beneficiaries.” she added.
“Plano rin po sana
namin na magkaroon ng
mas malaking building para
mas marami pa kaming mastocks
para ma-cater namin
ang needs ng customers
namin. Gusto rin namin na
mai-display dito yung SLP
products para mai-market
namin.” Susan shared.
While the store is
operating as planned, the
federation continues to
dream bigger. The group
is also looking forward
to more innovations and
assistance from partners
like the local government
unit, and other national
government agencies.
“Noong nag-ooperate
na yung store, tumutulong
na saamin ang Department
of Trade and Industry. Sila
ang tumutulong saamin sa
pag-maintain ng mga libro
namin. Pati yung LGU
nagbigay ng refrigerator
at yung Provincial Social
Welfare and Development
Office po nag-conduct ng
capacity building activity para saamin.” Susan
added.
With will to alleviate poverty, the Pantawid
families of Pudtol, Apayao looks forward to the
successful operation of the SLP Federation Grocery
and Agricultural Farm Supply Store and to the
realization of their dream of winning their battle
against poverty.
Pantawid Pamilya and SLP are two
of the poverty alleviation programs of the
Government being implemented under the
Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD). While Pantawid Pamilya provides
grants in exchange of compliance to certain
conditionalities, SLP seeks to improve the
socio-economic capacity of the poor by
providing livelihood opportunities through
skills training, employment facilitation, or
provision of seed capital assistance to enhance
their access to basic social services and
improve their standard of living. #DSWD-CAR,
SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Mark Erik King D.
Guanzon and Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
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