Driven by their dream to create an additional source of income, 30 women members of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija were able to set up a group enterprise through the help of DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

4Ps provides cash grants to the beneficiaries who comply with the program conditionalities which are: children 3 to 18 years old must be enrolled in kindergarten, elementary, and high school, and attend classes at least 85% of the time each month; children 0-5 years old must receive regular preventive health check-ups, growth monitoring, and vaccines; pregnant women get pre and post-natal care (must be attended by skilled/professional health workers); children in elementary must receive de- worming pills twice a year; and attendance of the grantee/parent/guardian to the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

On the other hand, SLP is a capacity building program which provides opportunities to the vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities to enhance their livelihood assets and capacity to utilize their resources more productively. Participants of the program can either choose one of its two tracks: the Micro-enterprise Development Track or the Employment Facilitation Track.

For the 4Ps women beneficiaries, the group proposed to engage in a rice retailing business under the Micro-Enterprise Development Track. They established the San Juan Super Moms SLP Association (SLPA) which signifies their ability to cope with the daily challenges of life and their collective determination to sustain the needs of their families.

In June 2019, after receiving their Seed Capital Fund amounting to P450,000, the San Juan Super Moms SLPA successfully established their business. They were also able to secure a steady market from neighboring areas and other 4Ps members in Pantabangan who purchased milled rice using the P600 per month rice subsidy for 4Ps beneficiaries.

Within a full year of operations, the group was able to have a full return of investment. They applied what they have learned during their social preparation activities under SLP, and were able to properly manage their finances generating savings in their bank account and providing a considerable amount of dividends to each of their members.

One of the members whose lives was improved through the association was San Juan Super Moms SLPA president Liezel Garcia.

“Ako po ay simpleng maybahay lamang na nagtitinda ng lutong ulam at nag-aahente naman ng baka at kalabaw ang aking asawa kaya’t may mga pagkakataon na may problema kaming pinansyal” (I am just a simple housewife who sells cooked dishes and my husband is an agent who sells cows and carabaos. The income we obtain from our previous livelihood is not enough so we have financial problems), she shared.

“Malaki ang naitulong ng SLP sa akin at sa aming mga miyembro. Dahil po sa programa natuto po kami kung paano magkaroon ng sariling negosyo. Nakakahiram po kami ng bigas kung kinakailangan ng walang porsyento at may payout kami na P100 kada araw sa miyembro namin na naka-duty sa aming bahay bigasan. Mayroon din kaming nakukuha na dividend kada anim na buwan” (SLP has helped me and our association members to learn how to manage our own business. Because of our business, we can borrow rice if needed without percentage. Members on store duty can also earn P100 a day, and we also get dividends every six months), Garcia added.

The San Juan Super Moms SLPA also stayed true to its name with the members being superheroes in their own little ways. The group eagerly offered to lend assistance to Marikit SLPA, another association in Pantabangan.  By sharing a portion of their savings, the San Juan Super Moms was able to help Marikit SLPA to rebuild their Mushroom Production business after the later’s first failed attempt.

When asked about their advice to other beneficiaries, Liezel said, “Laging maging masipag, responsable, at matiyaga. Unawain ang mga bagay na importante at palaging maging positibo sa buhay” (Always be diligent, responsible, and patient. Learn to understand the things that matter and have a positive outlook in life).

Strong, selfless, passionate, and super. The San Juan Super Moms SLPA, through their successful journey as 4Ps beneficiaries and SLP participants proved that indeed, these words are what best describe these generous mothers. ###