For Filipinos, sari-sari stores are the go-to in any barangay for their buying needs. In such a crucial time where 42% of the country’s 1.3 million sari-sari stores have closed due to the pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), it is important to support small business owners.
“Ang problema walang pahinga, ang problema walang ECQ, so dapat ang solusyon ay tuloy tuloy din… I will continue to commit na sa awa’t biyaya ng Diyos, itutuloy natin ang programang ito,” Cayetano said during the Sari-Sari Store event in Caloocan City on Thursday.
(Problems don’t rest and problems don’t have ECQ, so our solutions should be continuous… I will continue to commit that by the mercy of God, we will continue this program.)
In this edition of the Sari-Sari Store Event, 400 store owners from Caloocan City were selected to receive P3,500 each as additional capital for their small businesses. One hundred received theirs on the day, while the other 300 beneficiaries will receive their financial assistance from August 13 to 15 using a batch system.
Joining Cayetano in the event were Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar “Egay” R. Erice, local allies from nine areas across Caloocan’s three districts, and five beneficiaries per area.
Due to the EQC, the event was held through the Zoom platform in order to avoid a big crowd and ensure that safety protocols are followed. It was also live streamed on Cayetano’s official Facebook page,
“Ngayong panahon ng ECQ, tunay na marami ang nagdarahop at nagdurusa at marami ang sukdulan na talaga ang pagdurusa,” Erice said.
(In this time of ECQ, there are really many Filipinos who are poor and suffering and others are experiencing extreme hardship.)
Yesterday’s event was the fourth held in Caloocan City. The three previous editions benefitted 900 store owners, with the fourth edition bringing the total to 1,300.
All in all, the Sari-sari Store program has benefitted a total of 1,425 store owners across Luzon.
Cayetano assured viewers that his support for Filipino families will not stop at sari-sari stores and will be extended to other sectors.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala, hindi po hanggang sari-sari store lang ‘to. Mas madali lang kasi patakbuhin ang isang programa na targeted na may geographic location and may mga partner,” he said.
(Don’t worry, our support will not just be for sari-sari stores. It is just faster to run a program that is targeted to a specific sector with a geographic location where we have partners.)
