For Rhodora Datar, a resident of Mati City in Davao Oriental, she knows her life is changing for the better as she jokingly shared that she can now buy her own red lipstick, and can casually borrow some goods from local stores in their community without getting a second look, whether she is capable of paying for these or not.

These little wins, according to Rhodora, are no bragging rights but a humble reminder of how far she had come, hand in hand with the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP ) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD).

“Maraming salamat sa DSWD at SLP. Sana kagaya namin, marami pa kayong matulungan,” Rhodora said, as she credits the DSWD’s livelihood program for the noble transformations in her life.

Rhodora is the president of a group called the Kalaparan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (KARBENA), based in Sitio Kalaparan, Barangay Don Enrique Lopez in Mati City. The KARBENA, a beneficiary of the DSWD’s SLP, is involved in carabao milking business which has developed into a fast-growing local dairy product supplier in Davao Oriental.

Rhodora said getting this far, though, was not a walk in the park. Apart from personal struggles, the members of KARBENA had their backs against the wall before luck winded up their way.

“Existing na po kami dati… kaya lang kapag grupo talaga, may mga hindrances talaga,” Rhodora pointed out.

Rhodora narrated that together with other residents, she was beyond grateful when the local government provided their group with a carabao to support their livelihood. The problem, however, was their goals were somewhere else and off the right track in their early years.

In the absence of long-term plans and technical expertise, all that they could think of making at that time was to harvest milk and sell it to anyone who would seek to buy it. Their group also struggled agreeing to each other’s terms and vision for the business.

“Kulang kami sa kapital, capitalization ang problema namin. Ang SLP, malaking tulong yon kasi marami ang kakulangan namin kagaya na lang ng refrigerator na siyang importante sa amin,” Rhodora shared.

Over time, the seed capital of Php850,000 given by SLP was invested in a small milk collection center where they are now storing their milk supplies. They also used the seed capital to purchase eight refrigerators and five chest freezers.

With the refrigerators and freezers, they had not only prevented wastage but even expanded their storing capacities, paving the way to scale up their business partnerships and endeavors.

“Nag-bidding kami, sa LGU ng Davao Oriental at Mati. Dalawa kaming nanalo. So, kami ang naging supplier ng mga gatas para sa feeding program. Yung Davao Oriental, Php4.8M million ang kontrata, sa Mati naman, Php1.8 million,” Rhodora proudly said.

Through the SLP’s capacity building for micro businesses, Rhodora said they were able to undergo skills training to enhance their knowledge and skills specific for the management of the microenterprise.

The association now offers various flavors and products from flavored milk infused with strawberry, chocolate, and ube flavors, down to ice creams, ice candies and popsicles. With these variety of products, the group is, indeed, catching up with the varying demands of the market and consumers.

Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat also underscored how a whole-of-government approach transformed the mindset of the members of KARBENA.

“Una, medyo naguluhan sila papaano pero syempre farmers eh, hindi mo naman sila makita na corporate setup, pero sige lang, inalalayan sila ng lahat, tinulungan sila ng lahat…” the mayor said, going over government agencies that have extended help to the association like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the City Government of Mati.

“When they were able to collect the Php4.2 and Php1.8 million, nagpuntahan sa akin lahat at nagsabi, ‘Ma’am, hindi pala ganun kadali kumita ng milyon noh?’ Pero ang sarap ng feeling kapag nakita nila sa banko, kasi pinaghirapan nila ang pera nila,” Mayor Rabat explained.

Another KARBENA member also extended gratitude to the DSWD for the assistance. Grace Datar, a mother of two, whose youngest child has Down Syndrome, saw the program as a way to help her make both ends meet.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa gobyerno kasi tuloy-tuloy itong pag-gagatas namin,” Grace said, adding she can easily ask the association for cash advance when she needs it most for her children’s urgent and special needs.

To Rhodora, Grace, and the other members of the association, they regard the business as a big opportunity stirred by the DSWD, in partnership with other agencies.

The SLP is a capacity-building program of the DSWD for the identified poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households and communities aimed at providing viable interventions and support to improve the participants’ socio-economic conditions by accessing and acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods.

The inspirational story of the members of the KARBENA was featured over the DSWD’s Mga Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago (#KPAP), an online documentary. It is hosted by Traditional Media Service (TMS) Director Aldrine Fermin and posted every Tuesday in the DSWD’s official Facebook page. #