Micro Finance Program Implements in Brgy. Budlaan for Mothers of Malnourished Children

To fight malnutrition in their community, the Barangay Nutrition Committee of Brgy. Budlaan in Cebu City implements the Micro Finance Assistance Project. The project aims to support women who have malnourished children to avail of microfinance at a minimum of Two Thousand (2,000.00) Pesos payable for one year, interest-free. This is to encourage and help women with malnourished children in the barangay to invest in small businesses to earn additional income and increase their capacity to buy nutritious foods for their children.

Starting off with a seed capital of Php 56,000 from the Zonta Club 1, the project has been sustained for the last six (6) years. Through the period, the beneficiaries of this project became small sari-sari store owners, barbeque and other food stall merchandisers, or small business holders in the barangay. The Budlaan Nutrition Committee with technical assistance from the Cebu City Nutrition Committee has been working with said mothers’ group in this microfinancing strategy to help ensure healthy balance sheets to make their small enterprises thrive.

With the additional income for the household, women can now afford better quality food for their families preventing hunger and malnutrition. Other than that, they can now afford other basic human necessities addressing health, education, and other family needs thereby providing them with better quality of life. (NGS)