Jessica Patiluna, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary, and her husband, Dennis, managed their sari-sari store. They got their daily sustenance from their earnings. The couple dreamed of having a better life someday.

Typhoon Odette challenged their quest for a better life when it wreaked havoc, destroying houses and livelihoods, including Jessica’s sari-sari store.

Their dream of a better life became almost impossible, and Jessica lost hope.

After the tragic situation, the couple finally had a glimpse of hope when the government gave a livelihood settlement grant (LSG) to those small entrepreneurs affected by Odette.

On August 10, 2022, Jessica, who lives in Brgy. Pawa, Dumanjug, Cebu received 15,000 seed capital funds from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

The grant allowed them to stand up and strive to achieve their dreams. The couple revived their store, worked hard, and eventually scaled up to general merchandise. They also purchased livestock, like chickens, goats, and pigs, turning their home into a mini farm. They acquired a feedlot for livestock produce and auctioned it at the local market.

Project Development Office Juvilon Aguilar said he witnessed their efforts in developing their business, and now we can see that they have come a long way in reaching their dream. He attested to how hard the couple worked to achieve their dream. The series of monitoring visits and the technical assistance provided to the couple have helped them grow and achieve a stable income.

“Karon maka ingon ko nga layo na jud mig na abot. Maka suroy2x na mi sa mga lugar nga amo rang gipangandoy sa una. Nakauli pud mi sa probinsya sa akong mother-in-law (Now I can say that we have come a long way. We can visit the places we only dreamed of before. We also visited the province of my mother-in-law),” Jessica added that they can afford a comfortable life for their children.

The couple could not contain their happiness, as they now live the life they had once dreamed of. Jessica and Dennis attribute their success to the Sustainable Livelihood Program, which served as a foundation for their transformation. The program also provided them the means to overcome poverty, improve their livelihood, and create a better future for their family. They remain grateful for the blessings and continue to inspire others in their community with their success story.

Today, the Patiluna family enjoys a comfortable life, surrounded by the blessings of their hard work. The couple serves as a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the impact that targeted interventions can have on the lives of deserving individuals and families.

“The hard work has paid off,” Jessica said as she reminisced about their family’s struggles for a livelihood. Now, she can tell that this is the life she always strived for—a better life for her family. ###

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