Since November 2024, they meet up a couple of hours at least twice a week for business.

Men and women alike do the same things–they prepare the ingredients for the dishwashing liquid and later bottle and pack these up for delivery.

For this group of 29 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Brgy. Cale in Tanauan City, Batangas, they are simply not just grouped together because of their being beneficiaries of the program. They are a group of parents who proudly share a common goal–that is to contribute to their family’s income and later help towards improving their lives for their children.

A common goal

Mary Ann Inocencio, the parent leader of the group, opened the idea of a group business to her co-beneficiaries.

“Lagi na lang po kasi naming napag-uusapan na kinukulang sa pang-araw-araw, hindi sapat ‘yung kinikita kahit may natatanggap na mula sa programa,” shared Mary Ann, who added that life is really hard for most of them.

According to her, most of her co-beneficiaries are farm laborers who do not regularly earn for their families.

Mary Ann herself is a stay-at-home mother who helps her husband support their nine children through her minimal income operating a small sari-sari store.

“Kaya naisip po namin na bakit hindi kami magsimula ng maliit na negosyo, ito nga pong paggawa ng dishwashing liquid,” she shared.

As a startup capital, all 29 members decided to chip in PhP 200 each, which they used to buy their initial supplies for the production of the dishwashing liquid.

“Kami po ay nagkaroon ng orientation at nagkasundo-sundo at iniiusap po namin na ang lahat ng kikitain namin ay itatago muna namin at gagamitin para mas mapaunlad pa ang aming nasimulang negosyo,” shared Mary Ann.

After a couple of tries, they are slowly expanding their operations. Aside from dishwashing liquids, they also earn through repacking salt and black pepper.

Standing on their own

“Kami pong mga 4Ps ay tinitingnan bilang isa sa pinakamababa ang antas sa aming pamayanan, kaya nais po naming mabago ito pagdating ng panahon,” shared Mary Ann.

She added that they all are working towards improving their business so that soon, they will be able to earn and help their families.

Just one month from the start of their business, Mary Ann shares that they are planning to register their group as a cooperative. Soon, they also want to expand to other businesses including lending services for their members.

Though they are not earning individually as of the moment, all of them are positive about their growing business.

Mary Ann shares how positive she is as a leader seeing the response and commitment of her co-beneficiaries with their business.
“Patuloy naming pagbubutihan ang aming negosyo dahil alam naming hindi habang buhay kami ay 4Ps. Hangad naming mapaunlad ang aming negosyo para sa darating na panahon ay makatayo kami sa sarili naming mga paa,” shared Mary Ann, who also added that this line has also been their group’s primary vision. [with reports from LMMiranda]