Over 50 residents of Pateros can now start a sari-sari store business as the Office of the Vice President, in partnership with Hapinoy, turned over P540,000 worth of seed capital to the new micro-entrepreneurs.
This was after the new business owners completed a series of financial literacy workshops called “BasiKaalaman” seminar at Pateros Municipal Hall from March until June this year.
Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday witnessed the turnover ceremony at the Pateros Municipal Hall with Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III, Vice Mayor Gerald German, and Hapinoy President Mark Ruiz.
The OVP provided seed capital worth P10,000 to 25 of the sari-sari store owners who participated in the training. This was made possible through the OVP’s livelihood subsidy initiative last 2017. Meanwhile, Hapinoy and other donors gave P10,000 capital for each of the remaining 29 participants.
Pateros is one of the five areas under the Office of the Vice President’s Angat Buhay program that will receive training from the OVP and other partner organizations.
The financial literacy workshop will also be given to residents in Caloocan City, Malabon City, Marikina City, Muntinlupa City and Pasay City—all among the pilot areas of the OVP’s Metro Laylayan program.
In her remarks, Robredo lauded the determination of 54 residents who successfully finished the training.
“Mayroon pong kakarampot na pondo iyong opisina namin para sa pagtulong. Ayaw po namin iyong tulong na pagkatapos ng ilang araw, ubos na, ano. Kaya iyon pong aming karampot na puwedeng itulong, gusto naming itulong sa negosyo para kahit kaunti siya, kayang palaguin,” the Vice President said.
“Our office has some funds we can use to help. We do not want to give out help that’s here today and gone tomorrow. So, the little that we have, we want to give to you to use in your businesses that you can grow. We are confident you will put this to good use,” she added.
The small business workshop taught the owners how to manage their capital and savings to make their livelihood sustainable.
They were trained on the three-month “BasiKaalaman” seminar, which requires participants to complete six modules, including Financial Literacy, Leadership, Basic Research Market, Business Continuity Planning, Disaster Preparedness, and Family Dynamics and Development.
“Thank you very much that you’ve given us added knowledge to improve our businesses,” Cherimel Abarquez, one of the graduates, said during the program.