Plant Craze Gives New Business Venture for SAP Beneficiary

A growing community of “plantitos” and “plantitas” who love to care for plants and succulents has sparked a craze during this community quarantine.

The growing demand for these plants has surfaced a new opportunity for business-minded people like the single mother from Minganilla, Cebu.

Aunette Huerte, a mother of two, has started her business of growing succulents with the subsidy she received from the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

Aunette said that she got the idea from her sister, who encouraged her to use it as capital for this new business venture instead.

“Naghuna-huna ko nga ako-a unta ni i-bayad sa kuryente para mo siga na ang among balay balik, pero ingon sa akong igsoon nga maayo pa i-rolling lang sa nako ni (I thought of paying my electricity bills so our house will have light again but my sister suggested that it might be better to invest the money for it to grow),” Aunette said.

She immediately ordered some cacti to grow the night after she received her cash subsidy. She also bought succulents, mini pots, and fertilizers.

Aunette said that she invested half of the subsidy for her new business while the other half she bought groceries and other essentials.

Even before her plant business, Aunette already had her mini store where she sells goods and homemade delicacies like biko and maja.

She is thankful for the SAP she received as it helped in the midst of the ongoing community quarantine in the country.

“Lisod gyud to kay wala naman ko katrabaho, naa ra gyud sa balay nananom (It was a difficult time because I have no work, I am only in our home taking care of plants),” Aunette shared.

She also hopes that the pandemic will end soon so that everything will be back to normal and safe from this health crisis. (ASC)