Reducing poverty in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is on top of the Aquino administration’s road map for countryside development. With this, the national government infused funds for its comprehensive development to be undertaken by different government agencies.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), one of the implementing agencies, received P1.6 billion to intensify the implementation of its existing socio-economic development projects in the region.
The provision of sustainable livelihood to poor families is one of the programs that DSWD focuses on.
Livelihood assistance
Zenaida Singh Guiamalon, 44, a resident of Barangay Datu, Saudi Ampatuan of Maguindanao province had always dreamt of putting up a wallet-making business to help her family and to put her skill to good use.
Today, with the help of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Zenaida is a budding entrepreneur producing at least 1,000 wallets a month.
SLP is a community-based capacity building program that seeks to improve the socio-economic status of program beneficiaries. It employs a Community-Driven Enterprise Development (CDED) which equips beneficiaries to actively contribute to production and labor markets by making use of available resources.
The program has two tracks from which beneficiaries have the option to choose from after undergoing capacity building activities – the Micro-Enterprise Development Track and the Employment Facilitation Track.
Under the Micro-Enterprise Development Track, program participants may avail of seed capital assistance from DSWD, while Employment Facilitation Track facilitates access to employment opportunities based on their qualifications.
Zenaida availed of the Micro-Enterprise Development Track.
“Dati, isa lang akong maybahay at kuntentong i-budget ang sweldo ng aking asawa. Ang hirap kasi ang dami naming gastusin lalo pa at sampu ang aming mga anak (Before, I was a plain housewife, with only my husband’s income to budget. It was very difficult because we had a lot of expenses, especially with 10 children),” Zenaida said.
She also shared that she already had two sewing machines prior to the assistance she received from SLP, but they were not able to start a business for lack of enough capital. Thus, Zenaida and her husband were overjoyed when they qualified for the livelihood program.
SLP gave Zenaida the needed capital assistance amounting to P10,000 and the opportunity to become contributors in the development of ARMM.
Aside from the capital component, SLP provided Zenaida with capacity building activities to ensure that she is equipped in managing a business.
Her products are now recognized within her community and in neighboring markets, giving her an average profit from P15,000 to P 20,000 per month, which more than providing for her family’s needs.
Asked why she focused on wallet-making for her business, Zenaida said,“Naniniwala ako na ang wallet ay bahagi na nang buhay na bawat isa. Dagdag pa rito, ang kliyente ng wallet ay mula bata hanggang sa matanda babae man o lalaki (I believe that a wallet is almost part of everybody’s daily life. Also, wallet-making is a lucrative business as our patrons range from children to adults, male and female alike), “ Zenaida explained.
Zenaida and her husband run the business with the help of their two sons. They are now marketing their products in nearby municipalities like Esperanza and Isulan in Sultan Kudarat and in Parang and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao.
She added that her family is very thankful for the great opportunity given to them and for believing that they, too, are capable of helping them achieve better lives.
Microenterprise model
As proven by the Guiamalon Family, the microenterprise component of the SLP is effective in achieving peace and development in ARMM.
SLP particularly wants to engage women in the productive endeavor and involve the entire community in starting small businesses that have the potential to flourish.
Presently, SLP is being implemented in Basilan, Maguindanao, Lanao Sur A & B, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Through SLP, DSWD hopes to change the lives of 62,335 families with a total budget of P623.35 million. ###
