50 ‘sari-sari’, ‘karinderia’ owners get livelihood aid

LIVELIHOOD AID -- Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano distributes livelihood assistance to 50 business owners in Baguio City during simple activity Nov. 4. The aid will help them recover from their losses due to the pandemic. -- PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot 

By Liza Agoot  

BAGUIO CITY – Around 50 small entrepreneurs here received additional capital for their business that will help them recover from their losses due to the pandemic.
    Entrepreneur Clara Buenavista said the meager income derived from her small business that also allows others to earn was used up when the pandemic struck.
    She makes ice candy sold at schools by acquaintances before the pandemic.
    “Dati kasi 'yung napagbentahan ang ibinibili ko ulit ng asukal at ibang kailangan tapos ‘yung konting kita ibinibili namin ng pang-araw-araw (na pangangailangan), pero noong pandemic na hindi na naiikot ang puhunan at nawala na pati maliit na kita, naubos na rin ang maliit na puhunan (before, I used the sales to buy sugar and other ingredients while the income I get was used for our daily needs, but when the pandemic came and there was no more income, the small capital was used up),” she said.
    Analyn Bonita, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), said she had to come home in 2020 from Hong Kong to take care of her mother.
    When she arrived, she revived the small sari-sari store they used to operate at the house using the little amount she earned.
    She said the limited income in contrast to their needs with the medical requirement of her mother has drained the supply of the store.
    The two and the 48 other small business owners in the city were among the beneficiaries of small additional capital distributed here on Thursday by former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
    “This is just PHP3,500 to jumpstart a small business,” he told the beneficiaries.
    Cayetano said the assistance is part of his “Sampung Libong Pag-asa” program that aims to help ordinary people, families, and small business owners affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
    He said they have been going around the country giving to families in need.
    “This is a contribution from different sources that we give directly to families,” he said during the distribution activity held at the Baguio Convention Center. (PNA)