Pantawid Pamilya Mothers: Partners in Development

Sixty (60) Pantawid Pamilya mothers are now proud partners of development in the town of Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental.

They called themselves Sustainable Livelihood (SL) Vallehermoso. The newbie entrepreneurs are now the supplier of meat for the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) to day care centers in the town.

Indeed, the road to success was bumpy and rough but with the help from the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Vallehermoso, these Pantawid partner-beneficiaries were able to organize their own association.

To have their own legal identity, they complied with all necessary documents and secured permit to operate like BIR accreditation, official receipt and accreditation from LGU among other requirements.

The association elected its officers among themselves to manage and operate their micro-enterprise. It also established its own office in the public market area provided by Mayor Joniper Villegas.

As the association takes its initial steps to become a full-fledged business, they first ventured into bidding for the supply of raw materials of meat for the SFP in Vallehermoso.

They eventually won the bidding and then immediately organized the association into different committees to take charge of stocks of meat, purchasing, packing and packaging, labelling and delivery.

Tasking has been in placed to ensure that each member has specific duty and responsibility in the organization.

The demand is high because the association has to supply 350 kilos of chicken and 275 kilos of pork every week.

To also ensure that they are well-equipped in their first business venture, they have undergone training on meat processing as well as trainings on values formation, organizational development and financial management.

“Aduna gyud kausaban kung itandi nimu sa una. Kay sauna nga wala pa ang Pantawid Pamilya ug SLP pigado jud kaayu, karun makapadayon jud ug eskwela akung mga bata gani karun akung kamagulangan graduating na sa college, ang ikaduha naku nga anak kay grade 8 ug ikatulo nga bata kay grade 6 na (There is really a change in our situation now compared to our situation before. It was very hard then before Pantawid Pamilya and Sustainable Livelihood Program, but now, life has been better and my children have been in school. In fact, my eldest is a graduating student in college, my second child is in grade 8 and my third child is in grade 6),” according to Susana Yee, Presidente sa SL Vallehermoso.

“Sa pagkakarun, ang among organisasyon kay makahalin na ug Php 12,000.00 matag semana ug dako gyud ni nga tabang sa among mga pamilya (Currently, our organization is earning Php 12,000.00 per week and this is great help to our families),” added Susana.

They also know how to value their hard-earned money by depositing their funds at a local bank.

Now, the association does not only limit to SFP but it also engage into meat processing, cassava production and lending of money to its members.

The organization has also started to put up a convenience store (sari-sari store).

The members who raised and sell hogs earn at least Php 1,500.00 per head in four (4) months.

They also earn additional income as they are also tapped as laborer in the delivery, chopping of meat, packing, labeling and the like.

Aside from doing business they are also advocating gender equality by encouraging other women in the community to earn income.  (PR – Kerwin R. Macopia)