It was an ordinary day for Mr. Joel Credo, a single father from Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, who noticed a crowd gathering near the covered court. Curious about the commotion, he approached the crowd and asked what was happening. Then, he learned that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), a government initiative designed to help families and individuals build a more stable and sustainable source of income, conducted the activity.

He became interested in the program and attended the orientation. For him, this seems like an opportunity that could help improve his current livelihood. He has always dreamed of expanding his small business and achieving a consistent income to cover his family’s daily needs.

Joel struggled to raise his two children. He took advantage of the opportunity he accidentally discovered and visited Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) office on March 10, 2025.

He then visited the SLP Office located on the third floor of the DSWS building, and was attended to by Juvelyn Labang, SLPs Project Development Officer (PDO) II, who assessed him, took his initial profile, and arranged a schedule for validation and home visitation.

Juvelyn visited Joel and reoriented him about the program and its benefits, including his commitment to comply with the program processes.

Joel proposed a Water Vendo because he sees a strong demand for water retail as his store is near the barangay gym, where the community holds its various activities and basketball games. Installing a machine would be the best move.

Through the PHP 15,000.00 grant, Joel helped him allocate for an additional Water Vending Machine.

The PDO documented everything that occurred during the meeting with Joel, who submitted the proposal for processing and approval.

Twelve days after he submitted his application, he received a call from the Provincial Project Management Office (PPMO) via Geraldine Espanol, PDO II, informing him that DSWD approved his application and that he could claim his grant at the office.

“Pagkadawat nako sa tawag lipay kaayo ko, ug pagkadawat sa grant nagpa deliver dayon ko sa water vendo machine ug gi-install dayon sa tindahan (I was happy to receive the call, and as soon as I received the grant, I had the water vendo machine delivered immediately and installed in the store),” Joel shared.

The initial operation of his Water Vending Machine was successful, generating enough net sales for him to purchase another enterprise that would help his business grow further.

“Dako kayo ug impact sa akoang sales sa maong vendo machine. Pagka-labay sa 2-3 ka simana ang kita sa akong vendo machine, akong gi try ug isa pa ka item mao ang ice cream (There was a big impact on my sales from that vending machine. After 2-3 weeks of earnings from my vending machine, I was able to try one more item, the ice cream machine),” he said.

The income from his Water Vending Machine earned him enough to make improvements to his other business, a Sari-Sari Store. He was able to purchase additional goods such as soft drinks, restock essentials, and meet market demands in the neighborhoods.

He shared tips on debt management, updated commodity market surveys, researched market demands, and ensured customer service satisfaction, which helped grow his business successfully.

“Kining pag-paninda ug sari-sari store naka depende na siya sa diskarte. Una ayaw gyud ipa-utang imong mga paninda. Ikaduha magbantay ka sa mga presyo – kay naay mo taas naay mo ubos. Kumon kayo sa ako-a kining first-in first-out, bantayanan kayo kay first expire, first out ug gi paminaw pud nako ang feedback sa akong mga customers, dili gyud nako na wala-on (Running a sari-sari store truly depends on your strategy. First, avoid selling your goods on credit. Second, always check the prices, as they can fluctuate—sometimes increasing and other times decreasing. I used to practice the first-in, first-out method, and I consistently listen to feedback from my customers; I never ignore it),” said Joel.

With this newfound opportunity, he was able to prove to himself that he can still create a better future for his family through determination, hard work, and with the help of the DSWD SLP. He is grateful for how it shapes him and rebuilds himself. ###