In June 2019, a group of mothers in Malvar, Batangas was given an opportunity to collectively start and operate their very own sari-sari store.  Each one of them was hopeful that they can finally earn an additional source of income for their families. However, after three months of operations, they had to abandon their sari-sari store and so as their dreams for the business..

“Ang pwesto po ng aming sari-sari store ay kinuha po ng may-ari at gagamitin na daw po nila. Napatigil po kami nang biglaan. Nakakadismaya po para sa amin dahil gusto po namin sanang mai-rollback agad ang aming kapital para po mapalaki pa namin ang aming tindahan,” shared Rowena Miranda, one of the active and vocal members of the group.

Since the group no longer had a place to operate their store and could not find a new place suitable to their budget, the group’s members decided to loan their grocery items among the members.

“Bagamat malaking dagok po sa amin ang pagkawala ng aming pwesto, nananatili naman pong buhay sa aming mga member ang kagustuhan naming mairollback ang aming kapital at kumita mula sa aming mga paninda. Kaya po siguro kahit sobrang hirap ng aming sitwasyon noon, nakagawa pa rin po kami ng paraan,” Rowena further shared.

By November 2019, the group was able to collect enough money from the members as payment from the grocery items loaned. Not long after, the group began venturing into another business – rice retailing. Rowena, who has a sari-sari store of her own, volunteered her house as a storage area for their stocks and also sold their rice in her store. 

“Vinolunteer ko na po ang sarili kong bahay para po masigurado na magtutuloy-tuloy na ang aming negosyo at para hindi na po kami gumastos pa sa pwesto. Mabigat man po itong responsibilidad para sa akin, pero alam ko naman na malaking tulong naman ito sa aming grupo lalo na sa mga kasama kong mas nangangailangan kesa sa akin,” shared Rowena.   

Soon, their rice retailing business began bringing in an income of at least Php 4,000.00 a month as they had begun to have regular patrons, mostly neighbors and boarders in the area. 

In 2020, although there were community quarantines being implemented in all places and had slowed down their sales, the group still managed to keep their business running and their finances secured. 

“Buwan-buwan po, sinisigurado po namin na mayroon po kaming naitatabing pero mula sa kita namin para po kapag humina ulit o may maisip kaming ibang negosyo, may mapagkukunan po kami ng pera,” Rowena proudly related. 

As of July 2021, the group has around Php160,000.00 as group saving, which is almost half of their starting capital. Rowena and several other members continuously encourage other members to actively participate in their group endeavors and advise them to give updates on their respective undertakings during their meeting.

“Bagamat kinakaya naman po naming kahit kaunti lang kami, kinukumbinsi pa rin po namin ang mga inactive [members] na sumama sa amin dahil sa kanila rin naman po itong negosyo at nang may pumalit po sa amin kapag po kinakailangan. Gusto rin po namin na sila ay matututo ring magnegosyo. Kung lahat po sa amin ay marunong, masasabi po namin na nagtagumpay talaga kami dito sa aming negosyo,” explained Rowena. 

Currently, the group is considering undertaking an additional business venture – a laundry shop or a small canteen. The group felt they can manage any of the two ventures and will help add income to their group especially since there are a number of boarders in their neighborhood.

“Marami man pong problema ang aming pinagdaanan, natuto naman po kaming maging matatag at maging maparaan upang patuloy na mapatakbo at mapalago ang aming negosyo. Malaki po ang pasasalamat po namin sa pagkakataon makapagsimula ng maliit na negosyo at magkaroon kaming mga myembro ng dagdag kita para sa aming pamilya,” Rowena proudly remarked.

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Rowena and her co-members are all beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Malvar.  They were organized as a group under the Sustainable Livelihood Program, also a program of the DSWD, in the early months of 2019 under the group name Biyaya SLP Association. 

The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is a program that aims to improve the socio-economic well-being of poor families and vulnerable sectors by building their knowledge and capabilities in livelihood. (with reports from ASangalang).