Santiago City resident Rizalie Maala’s top priority is providing for her family’s needs. With her perseverance and a P3,500 financial stimulus from former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s Sari-saring Pag-asa program, she was able to do this through her sari-sari store.
“Dahil sa tindahan ko, nakakapagpaaral ako ng mga anak ko sa kolehiyo, at saka nakapagpundar ako ng ref,” Maala said on Saturday, January 29, during a Facebook livestream on Cayetano’s page.
(Because of my store, I was able to send my children to college, and I was able to buy a refrigerator.)
Despite only starting her store last year, Maala is quick to practice habits that are consistent in keeping her sari-sari store stocked and ready for customers.
The money she makes in a week is divided into two – half for savings and the other half for restocking. She applied the same method to the amount she received from Cayetano.
“Syempre, ang mga customers, pag alam nilang maraming laman ang tindahan mo, alam nila na nandito ang mga kailangan nila,” she explained, emphasizing the needs of her customers.
(Of course, customers, when they know your store is full, they know that what they need is available.)
“Hindi na nila kailangan pumunta ng market para makipag siksikan. Dito kasi kahit paano, may social distancing pa din,” Maala added.
(They don’t have to go to the market where there’s a lot of people. At least with a sari-sari store, there is social distancing.)
As sari-sari store owners continue to struggle amidst the pandemic, Cayetano shows no signs of slowing as his program reached a total of 16,678 beneficiaries.
The latest episode featured 15 store owners from Santiago City, Isabela.
The program shows that with P3,500, sari-sari store owners can rebuild and maintain a livelihood to support the needs of their family.
