Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies in Congress extended financial assistance to 45 sari-sari store owners from San Jose del Monte (Bulacan), Angeles (Pampanga), and Pilar (Bataan) on Thursday, October 7, 2021.
Another set of 30 beneficiaries were also selected from the Facebook live commenters, bringing the total tally that day to 75 beneficiaries.
Ricky Saul, Head of Anti-Drug Abuse Council of Angeles City, cited the people’s need for assistance as the health continues to affect the country.
“Paano ba naapektuhan ng pandemya ang mga munting sari-sari stores, small businesses? Y’ung mga anak nila o asawa nila na nagtratrabaho, natigil sa pagtratrabaho because of the pandemic. Nakulangan ang kanilang income sa bahay, kaya yung tinda nila na binibenta, ngayon kinakain na nila,” Saul said.
(How does the pandemic affect small sari-sari stores, small businesses? Because of the pandemic, their children or spouses have lost their jobs. Their household income decreased, that’s why they now eat the items that they are supposed to sell.)
The Sari-saring Pag-asa program aims to financially assist sari-sari store owners during the pandemic by giving them P3,500 in cash aid that they can use to replenish their stocks and buy their basic needs.
The beneficiaries also receive a logbook that helps them keep track of their expenses and earnings.
Sari-saring Pag-asa complements Cayetano’s Sampung Libong Pag-asa program, which provides P10,000 in cash aid to select families.
As of Saturday, October 2, Sari-Saring Pag-asa has extended its help to 4,136 beneficiaries.
