“FAITH” is the word that has kept the 50 members of the Maningcao Pantawid Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (MAPA SLPA) going despite the struggles and trials that they have encountered as they work hard to get their own livelihood project. The group is composed of 2 men and 48 women.

The members went through a lot of challenges before they have established their livelihood. They had to attend hearings to lobby to their officials and to convince them to provide for a lot where they could construct a building for their livelihood project.

Despite the resignation of the SLP Project Development Officer (PDO) who handled them, they remained hopeful and welcomed the new PDO, Murielle Lirazan. Together with Ms. Lirazan, the 50 members travelled to the municipality of Siaton which is five towns away from Sibulan. Riding a dump truck, they braved the heavy rains just to attend the pre-membership education seminar.

These were just some of the challenges they had hurdled. They persevered because they believed and hoped that there is better life ahead of them with their livelihood project. They believed that one day that their hard work will pay off.

And that one day did not take very long to arrive. The association was re-oriented by their new Project Development Officer (PDO) in February 2016. By December of the same year, they received the livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). In between those months were the struggles of the association to process their documents in order to avail of the Seed Capital Fund (SCF).

The association has decided to put up a General Merchandise Store. They said it is a project that not only the members of the association can benefit, but also the whole community in Maningcao, Sibulan. Also, some members of the association have basic knowledge in managing a store, because they have experienced putting up a small sari-sari store business in their own residences. They are confident that they can pull off this livelihood project.

“Ang amoang na come up na project, mao gyud ni siyang tindahan. Tungod sa ka layo sa area sa amoang lungsod, amoang plite lang daan layo na kaayo mintras kung magtukod mig tindahan sa SLP dako na kaayog kahigayunan nga masulbad ang amoang panginahanglanon sa adlaw-adlaw (Ideas were collected from each member and were consolidated and used as basis for the group to put up a General Merchandise store. Since the main market is more than 42 kilometers away from our barangay, and instead of travelling far and paying the fare of around P100.00, it was better to have the store in our own barangay and help our community with everyone’s daily needs),” expressed Lenie Taghap, president of MAPA SLPA.

Today, this DSWD-funded 4M’s General Merhandise MAPA SLPA is the biggest store in barangay Maningcao.

The association members have also undergone several trainings, such as basic accounting and retail trading and store management, for them to gain more knowledge on how to run a business. The SLPA president and treasurer also attended the basic law on operating a business conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“Tinuod jud diay ni, wala’y komedya (This is not a joke, it’s now for real),” expressed Lenie, when they received their grant from DSWD-SLP.

Lenie narrated that whenever a visitor drops by the elementary school, which is a stone throw away from their General Merchandise, most would be surprised that there is an SLP livelihood project in their area. The association members stand proud as visitors appreciate their livelihood project.

“Wala mi ga-expect sa among kaugalingon na kanang nakita namo karon pwde diay namo na mabuhat (We did not expect that everything we see here right now is all because of our own hard work),” she added.

As an association, Lenie said that the main ingredients for their thriving livelihood project are unity and cooperation among the members.  According to her, she is glad that the members of the association are enthusiastic and cooperative. It is rare for them to disagree, especially on important matters. However, whenever they have conflicts within the association, they see to it that they resolve it in their monthly meetings. They also have a clear delegation of tasks among the members. They know what their obligations and responsibilities are to their project.

From being an ordinary citizen, to becoming a member of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), they are now members of a Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA). Since then, a lot of positive changes of the members have been observed. Now, the members can speak their minds well and can articulate their basic rights. They also know the processes of getting their permits and licenses, and they know who and what to tap for help for the operation of their business. The MAPA SLPA has been recognized as a Model SLPA to other organized and unorganized Pantawid Groups.

The association has planned to expand their business with an eatery/carenderia because of their proximity to schools and other government offices. They, too, targeted to tie-up with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and other local offices for catering services and hopefully to join in the procurement of supplementary feeding as they are now accredited by the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS).

Indeed, no one can measure the success of what one’s faith can bring. Paired with hard work and teamwork in achieving their goal, the MAPA SLPA has tasted the success of their livelihood. Keeping these values alive as they dream and venture through new endeavors, undoubtedly, this association is heading towards a brighter future. ###

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