Noel Magnabihon is a tricycle driver from Pandacan, Manila whose income suffered a blow when the pandemic hit last year. With people ordered to stay home, his daily earning of P700 dwindled to a mere P200 — nowhere near enough to support his family’s needs.
After being announced as a beneficiary of the Sampung Libong Pag-as program on August 15, 2021, Magnabihon was able to turn the situation around. He used the P10,000 cash aid as capital to start his own business — a small sari-sari store that can supplement his daily earning as a tricycle driver.
Between the two incomes, he is now able to support his youngest child who lives with him. The P600 he earns every day is enough for their daily needs, and what he earns beyond that he puts back into the store.
“Sa ngayon po, dahil may nakukunan ako kahit papaano sa pang araw-araw, ay hindi na po siguro ako mangangamba na. Makaka-survive na po ito sa araw-araw na pangangailangan,” Magnabihon said in a video presented during the Sampung Libong Pag-asa live feed in former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s official Facebook page on December 6, 2021.
(Now, because I have a daily income, I don’t have to worry too much anymore. I can live with this for my daily needs.)
“Nung nagkaroon po ako ng pagkakataon na ibinigay si Sir [Alan] Peter Cayetano, hindi na po ako yung minsang naghahanap ng mapagkakakitaan. Malaking tulong po talaga yung naibigay ni sir,” he added.
(When I received the opportunity to receive the aid from Sir [Alan] Peter Cayetano, I didn’t have to struggle looking for occasional income anymore. What he gave has been a big help.)
The amount of P10,000 for each beneficiary was specially chosen by Cayetano because of the significance it can make in the lives of struggling Filipinos.
“Any amount naman [pwede]. In fact, isang yakap lang, isang smile, ‘di ba? May problema, mabigyan mo lang ng advice o isang lunas, happy na yung tao, ‘di ba? So pagdating sa pera, any amount will help, ‘di ba?” Cayetano said in an interview on October 29, 2021.
(Any amount [is significant]. In fact, just a hug or a smile goes a long way. If someone has a problem, if you can just give them advice or some understanding, it will make that person happy. So when it comes to money, any amount will help.)
“Pero yung P10K kasi, it approximates y’ung one month, na kung Monday to Friday ka nagtatrabaho sa minimum wage. So hopefully, hindi lang to pangtawid, pang-ahon din,” he added.
(But the P10,000 cash assistance, it approximates one month of salary if you work from Monday to Friday on minimum wage. So hopefully, this isn’t just to survive, but to thrive.)
Launched on May 1, the Sampung Libong Pag-Asa program gives P10,000 in financial assistance to select individuals affected by the pandemic.
As of December 6, 2021, a total of 14,323 beneficiaries have already received the cash assistance.
Cayetano and his allies in Congress spearheaded the initiative in order to campaign for the inclusion of the P10,000 financial aid provision under the Bayanihan 3.
