Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s Sari-saring Pag-asa program completed another round in the Visayas on Tuesday after reaching out to beneficiaries in Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Occidental.
A total of 45 pre-selected beneficiaries received financial assistance from the program, while 30 commenters were selected from the program’s Facebook livestream on October 26, 2021.
During the livestream, Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Samsam Gullas Jr. said the initiative is timely since many sari-sari store owners were severely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sa hirap ng panahon ngayong pandemya, severely affected ang ekonomiya. Severely affected ang ating mga sari-sari store owners,” he said.
(Because of the difficulties we faced under the pandemic, the economy and our sari-sari store owners were severely affected.)
“Alam ko na malaki itong tulong dahil ang ayudang ibinigay niya sa mga tao, makakabili sila ng ingredient, stock para sa kanilang sari-sari store,” he added.
(I know this program will be of great help to them because they can use their cash aid to buy ingredients and restock their sari-sari stores.)
Mayor Hilario Ayuban of Loay, Bohol and Vice Mayor Justin Dominic Gatuslao of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental also thanked Cayetano for extending the program towards the Visayas.
The Sari-saring Pag-asa program aims to distribute P3,500 each to pandemic-stricken sari-sari store owners as supplemental capital for their businesses.
The program’s mantra is encapsulated in four action points for sari-sari store owners: Budget, Engganyo, Save, and Tiyaga or BEST.
Moreover, the initiative also offers a template budget plan for beneficiaries so that they can use their cash aid for improving their small businesses and securing their daily needs.
To date, the initiative has reached more than 4,800 beneficiaries nationwide.
