Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s Sari-saring Pag-asa program drew support once again from beneficiaries and local officials in Cebu, Bohol, and Iloilo on Thursday.
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 28, 2021.
Mayor Joannes Alegado of Consolacion, Cebu said the program has brought crucial aid to small business owners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Simula pa noong 2020, nakakaawa talaga ang sitwasyon ng ating mga kababayan na talagang naapektuhan ang mga tindahan, mga maliliit na negosyante sa ating bayan,” he said.
(Since 2020, the situation of our sari-sari store owners and small business owners has been dismal.)
“Sa paraang ito (Sari-Saring Pag-asa program), nakikita ko na babangon talaga ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, hindi lang ang mga malalaking negosyante, pati na rin ang mga maliliit na negosyante,” he added.
(Through the Sari-Saring Pag-asa program, I expect the Philippine economy to grow not only for our big business owners but also those involved in small businesses.)
For her part, Mayor Trixie Fernandez of San Enrique, Iloilo stressed the need to provide sari-sari store owners with additional capital so they can cope with the negative effects of the pandemic.
“Malaking tulong po ito sa aming mga sari-sari store owners who are affected by the pandemic, dagdag puhunan para sa kanilang negosyo at malaking tulong sa pangkabuhayan nila,” he said.
(This will really help our sari-sari store owners who are affected by the pandemic. This will provide them with additional capital to support their sources of livelihood.)
Mayor Constantino Reyes of Ebay, Bohol thanked Cayetano and his team for bringing the program to the largest and most populous municipality in the province.
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.
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.
