More than a hundred Pagadianons received startup capital this week from Senator Alan Peter “Compañero” Cayetano’s Sari-Saring Pag-Asa program in time for the 54th Araw ng Pagadian celebration.
In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWd), Cayetano’s team visited Pagadian City to distribute assistance to 150 individuals, many of whom were minimum wage earners in need of additional sources of income.
Greeting the locals a happy 54th Araw ng Pagadian in a video message, Cayetano expressed hope the beneficiaries would soon reap the benefits of the assistance.
“Bumabati ako sa lahat ng mamamayan ng Pagadian. Sana po sa mga darating na araw, mga darating na buwan, ang inyong mga itinanim ay matitikman niyo po ang mga ani nito,” he told them.
He encouraged them and the local officials not to get tired of planting seeds of development.
“Some projects really take time to [produce results]. So tanim lang po tayo nang tanim, kasi sabi nga sa Bibliya, kung ano ang ating itatanim, ‘yan din ang ating aanihin,” he said.
Launched in 2021, the Sari-Saring Pag-Asa program provides additional capital to sari-sari stores on the verge of closing down due to the pandemic.
Since it began, the program has supported tens of thousands of both existing and aspiring sari-sari store owners across the country.
One of the beneficiaries in Pagadian City was Riza Villareal, a mother of four who earns P351 daily as a nail technician – barely enough to support their daily needs.
She said the startup capital that she received from the Sari-Saring Pag-Asa program brought her hope.
“Sobrang laking tulong talaga to para sa pamilya at mga anak ko. Kahit maliit lang ang kita, at least kapag tinyaga, talagang gaganda ang negosyo,” Villareal said.
The distribution of the assistance was conducted in coordination with Pagadian City Mayor Sammy Co, Vice Mayor Baldomero Fernandez, and City Councilor Sam Tyra Co.
“Sana po mas marami pa tayong magawang projects together,” Cayetano told the people of Pagadian in his video message.###
