Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday reached out to 100 homemakers who are also small business owners from the cities of Malabon, Manila, Caloocan, and Taguig where he and his team distributed 10K Ayuda through the Sampung Libong Pag-asa program.
“Marami tayong mga kababaihan na hindi naman nila pinili na maging co-breadwinner, pero dahil nga sa pandemic or dahil sa sitwasyon nila, nagtayo pa ng maliliit na business. Ang problema, lumiit y’ung mga business na ‘yan o nahirapan nung pandemic,” Cayetano said during the program on October 29, 2021.
(There are many women who did not choose to become the co-breadwinners of their families, but because of the pandemic or their situation, they had to establish their own small business. The problem, however, is these small businesses became even smaller or experienced hardship because of the pandemic.)
“Hopefully, itong (this) 10K Ayuda will inject some new life, hope, and capital in their businesses,” he added.
Of the 100 beneficiaries, 30 beneficiaries were from Malabon City, Manila City, and Caloocan City each. Ten other beneficiaries were from Taguig City, including Rowena Ferreras from Barangay Caldaza.
Ferreras’ three children now have their own families. She ventured into the business of preparing and selling home-cooked meals to provide for the medical needs of her husband who is suffering from heart disease and for their household expenses.
“Dahil sa kahirapan namin ngayon at saka y’ung asawa ko kasi, may sakit, kaya nagluto kami nang paunti-unti,” Ferreras said.
(Because of our financial situation at present, and because of my husband who has an illness, we had to slowly begin a cooking business.)
Apart from the pre-selected beneficiaries, 50 other recipients were chosen from the program’s Facebook livestream.
Cayetano was joined by Malabon City Mayor Antolin “Lenlen” Oreta, Manila City Barangay Chaipersons Benjamin Nuguid (Brgy. 424, Zone 43), Lito Mata (Brgy. 571, Zone 56), Jose Lozendo (Brgy. 558, Zone 55), Nestor Lopez (Brgy 573, Zone 56), Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar “Egay” Erice, and Caloocan City 1st District Councilor PJ Malonzo.
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 October 29, 2021, a total of 12,812 have already received the cash assistance.
Cayetano spearheaded the initiative in order to campaign for the inclusion of the P10,000 financial aid provision under the Bayanihan 3.
