• A total of 255 residents of Jomalig, Quezon Province are now owners of a beach resort in the island
    municipality through the capital assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and
    Development (DSWD) under its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
    Of this number, 181 are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program while the rest are
    indigent members of barangays Apad and Bukal.
    The beneficiaries, organized as the Humalik Beach Resort SLP Association, were granted a total of
    PhP2.55 Million as seed capital fund under the SLP, which they used as capital in the construction and
    initial operation of the Humalik Beach Resort located in Barangay Apad.
    The resort, which was opened last March 7, offers air-conditioned rooms, function hall, tent rentals and
    island tours among others.
    As owners of the resort, all the beneficiaries can earn through dividends in the monthly income of the
    resort as well as earn individually through various income-generating opportunities such as
    employment, tour guiding, selling of produce like fish and crops, and sand massage.
    Jomalig is the farthest and smallest island municipality of Quezon Province and has recently been
    gaining popularity among local tourists because of its unspoiled golden sand beaches.
    Community enterprise
    Rhuel Rodriguez, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary and the president of the SLP association, shared that
    the concept of a beach resort as a community business arose because of the emerging tourism in their
    island municipality.
    “Unti-unti nang nakikilala ang Jomalig dahil sa ganda ng mga beaches na hindi pa naaabot ng
    komersyalismo. Kaya naisip namin na resort ang gawing negosyo na popondahan sa ilalim ng SLP,”
    shared Rodriguez.
    Jason Coronacion, the Project Development Officer of DSWD assigned in the municipality, said that
    since the locality has tourism potentials based on their initial study, the beach resort project was
    immediately supported and funded by the agency.
    All the beneficiaries underwent orientation and training on basic micro-enterprise development, which
    helped them in the conceptualization, construction and implementation of the Humalik Beach Resort.
    As part of the agreement of the association, all members will receive a dividend from 20 percent of the
    total earnings of the resort. The other 80 percent will be used for the improvement and expansion of
    the facility.
    Individual opportunities for income generation
    Rodriguez added that besides the income of the resort, all the members of the association can earn
    individually, too to help them support their families.
    For instance, in the construction of the resort, those who were hired for the daily labor were members
    of the association.
    “Bukas din ang resort na bumili ng mga produkto katulad ng mga isda at gulay mula sa mga miyembro
    kapag nag-umpisa na ang catering dito,”
    said Rodriguez.
    Meanwhile, workers assigned in the management of the resort, cleaners, tourist guides are also
    members.
    Cerlina Hidalgo, 38, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary and an association member, sees future guests as
    customers for her small ‘kakanin’ business.
    Improved lives through tourism, participation
    During the opening of the resort, Milantie Aceveda, regional program coordinator of the SLP in the
    CALABARZON Region, encouraged the beneficiaries to work together to ensure the success of the
    business. He added that the DSWD will continuously collaborate with the local government of Jomalig
    as well as other partners to help the association.
    Merlie Del Castillo, tourism officer of Jomalig, said that the Humalik Beach Resort is a welcome addition
    in the growing tourism industry of the island and committed to promote the resort to the tourists.
    Rodriguez further shared that they eye expanding their facility as the resort operates and earns.
    “Naniniwala ako na magiging matagumpay ito lalo na kung lahat kami ay magtutulungan at magkakaisa
    para sa aming proyekto,”
    Rodriguez said.
    The SLP is a community-driven enterprise development program that seeks to improve the economic
    sufficiency of program participants through capacity building for either micro-enterprise development
    or employment facilitation. The SLP prioritizes beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya program to provide
    families with income-generating opportunities towards improving their living condition.#