Sari-sari store owner Dobelyn Diaz used to earn P1,500 per day with barely any savings from her small store in Central Bicutan, Taguig City.
When she was chosen as a beneficiary of the Sari-saring Pag-asa program on September 1, 2021, she was able to restock her once-bare sari-sari store.
After receiving the P3,500 financial assistance, she allotted P1,500 to buy soft drinks and P2,000 for canned goods, condiments, and noodles.
“Para po sa katulad ko na bago pa lang pong nagtitindahan, ang tip ko po sa inyo ay ang bilhin ninyo po ang mga mabibili at mabilis mapaikot ang pera,” Diaz said.
(To fellow store owners, I encourage you to buy items that are in demand in your respective areas so that the cash flow in and out of the store will be easier and faster.)
“Huwag po muna tayong magpautang para po mas lumago pa ang ating tindahan,” she added.
(In order for your stores to flourish, try to avoid lending money to others from the store.)
Diaz expressed her gratitude for the program, noting that because of the financial aid, she was able to maintain savings for the needs of her family such as medicines, tuition fees, and other daily necessities.
Diaz’s story was featured in the October 28, 2021 episode of Sari-saring Pag-asa, which was live streamed on the official Facebook page of former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
The episode saw 75 new beneficiaries. As of this writing, over 4,800 sari-sari store owners have benefitted from the program.
