SIQUIJOR, Siquijor (PIA) -- A total of 24 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from Brgy. Napo, San Juan, Siquijor have received a livelihood grant from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD 7) to boost their egg production venture. 

The grant, totaling P478,944, will serve as the  start-up capital for the chicken farming production of the Napo Egg Production (NEP) group. 

One of the recipients, 27-year-old Michelle Nano and a mother of two, said she will work hard to help make their business a success. 

“Nagpasalamat gyud ko nga niabot ning project nga wala namo damha. Motabang gyud ko nga molambo ni. Matinabangay lang gyud (I am very thankful that we have been chosen as the beneficiary of this project. I will work hard to make this a success. We just need to work together),” said Nano, who serves as NEP’s treasurer. 

NEP President, Eugene Cabisada, a 45-year-old father of two from Purok 4, Napo, San Juan, Siquijor, said he is highly motivated to ensure their livelihood project will be successful. 

“Pasalamat gyud ko aning project. Ako gyud ning ayuhon kay ila man kong gipili pagka-Presidente bisan gamay ra akong iniskuylahan. Naningkamot gyud ko para sa akong mga anak (I am deeply thankful we have this project. I will do my best as they have chosen me to be their president, even though I don’t have much of an education. I am working hard for my children,” said Cabisada. 

First batch 

Members of the NEP compose the first batch of beneficiaries in Siquijor province to receive the livelihood aid from DSWD7 under the Enhanced Support Services Intervention (ESSI). 

ESSI provides demand-driven social service interventions for specific sectors, such as indigenous peoples, homeless families, other vulnerable groups. 

“The program aims to enable the beneficiaries to become self-sufficient individuals who can stand on their own even after graduation,” said Raquel Daria, DSWD7 project development officer III and Modified Conditional Cash Transfer focal person. 

Daria said ESSI is a strategy to help 4Ps beneficiaries move from Level 1 or “survival” phase to Level 2 or “subsistence” phase until they reach Level 3, or the “self-sufficient” phase, in seven years.

Once they reach Level 3, the beneficiaries are considered “non-poor” and this indicates that the family is ready to graduate or “exit” from the 4Ps. 

“Mao ni nga naa ta’y ESSI tungod kay naa ra ta’y pito ka tuig nga i-manage ang atong mga Pantawid members. (This is the reason why we have ESSI because we only have seven years to manage our Pantawid beneficiaries),” said Daria. 

ESSI will help 4Ps families to acquire a regular income while encouraging community involvement even after their graduation from the program.

The funds given under ESSI will serve as the group’s initial capital to run the egg production project. 

Aside from the monthly income derived from the profit sharing, the group will also be able to generate another capital to either expand their existing business or fund another livelihood project.

Trainings

Daria challenged the NEP members to seek ways on how they can efficiently manage their business and make it sustainable, such as livelihood trainings. 

“Kung dili ta mag-training, dali ra mahurot ang P498,000. Pero ug maayo nato pagdala, mag-continue ang inyong egg production, magbuhat na mo’g another proyekto bisag dili necessarily egg production. (If we don’t undergo trainings, the funds will easily be depleted. But if you’re able to manage your business well, the egg production will continue and you can even have another project),” explained Daria. 

Of the total 388 livelihood projects funded by ESSI in Central Visayas, 364 continue to be sustainable. (rac/PIA 7-Siquijor)