Wednesday’s episode of former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s Sampung Libong Pag-asa featured the story of Mary Jane Buenaobra, who was selected as a beneficiary on September 13, 2021.
In a prerecorded video shown during the episode, Buenaobra said she invested P8,000 of the assistance she had received into her small business. The rest she saved for the education of her children.
Buenaobra’s husband, a tricycle driver, had lost his means of livelihood when the pandemic hit. However, after receiving her P10,000 assistance, Buenaobra was able to expand her small market stall, supporting her family with expanded inventories and better products.
Now they’re not only surviving but thriving, earning more now than before the pandemic thanks to the capital support.
“Tulong lang yung kahit na ka-unting puhunan, basta napapaikot lang ng maganda yung pinakatubo, tapos ipupuhunan ulit, pwedeng lumaki, pwedeng lumago,” Buenaobra said, giving advice to the viewers and other Filipinos facing financial challenges.
(Even a small capital is a big help, so long as you reinvest it when you earn. It will get bigger, it will grow.)
Launched on May 1, the Sampung Libong Pag-Asa program gives P10,000 in financial assistance to select individuals affected by the pandemic.
Cayetano and his allies in the Balik sa Tamang Serbisyo (BTS) sa Kongreso spearheaded the initiative in order to campaign for the inclusion of the P10,000 financial aid provision under Bayanihan 3.
As of November 3, 2021, a total of 13,067 beneficiaries have already received the cash assistance.
In a live video before the airing of Wednesday’s episode, the former Speaker talked about the economic plans he wishes for the country, such as expanded government loan programs with low interest rates and flexible payback periods.
“We’re adding P500 billion sa budget next year. So, kung P200 sa P500 billion ay gagastusin natin sa P10K Ayuda, all families mabibigyan na yan. Including yung 5 to 7 million na microenterprise na kailangan na kailangan ng puhunan,” he said.
(We’re adding P500 billion to the budget next year. If P200 billion of that P500 billion is spent on P10,000 in assistance, then all families will be able to benefit. This includes the 5 million to 7 million microenterprises that truly need the help.)
