To help budding entrepreneurs improve their livelihood and life condition, the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) recently granted an interest and collateral-free capital assistance to five community groups composed of 83 members and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamiya Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Valenzuela City.

A total of P446,000 worth of capital assistance were given to them on Jan. 27 at the City Hall. The City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) said this year’s beneficiaries were Abutin Natin Ugong Pantawid SEAK and Kaagapay Ugong Pantawid SEAK from Brgy. Ugong, Kumikitang Kabuhayan Pantawid SEAK from Brgy. Coloong, Lakas Tibay Maysan Pantawid SEAK from Brgy. Maysan and Sama-Sama Paso de Blas Pantawid SEAK from Brgy. Paso de Blas.

The annual granting of the capital assistance to the selected 4Ps members of local government units is part of Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Integrated Development Project, a capability-building program of DSWD and LGUs that endeavours to augment the socio-economic skills of poor families through the organization of community-based associations for entrepreneurial development.

Furthermore, the program aims to alleviate poverty in the community by providing the poor and disadvantaged sector of the society with timely access to credit and development opportunities.

Josielyn Hantalan, owner of a small mineral water station in Brgy. Paso de Blas, shares her delight upon receiving the capital fund. She said, “Malaking tulong po yung ibinigay na pangpuhunan sa amin ngayon. Makadadagdag ito sa maliit naming negosyo at mapaiikot namin ang kikitain nito para sa pang araw-araw namin (The capital assistance is really a big help to us. We will be able to sustain our little business and the money from it will be used for our everyday living).”

Hantalan is only obliged to pay back P170 per week for one year for the P5,000 capital lent to her. Nonetheless, she endeavours to save more from her earnings for the education of her three kids.

Speaking on behalf of Mayor Rex Gatchalian, CSWDO head Dorothy Evangelista told the beneficiaries to use their capital assistance efficiently and wisely. She further noted that the beneficiaries from Valenzuela City have good track records to DSWD-NCR with regards to the proper usage of the capital assistance.

“The capital assistance will help you earn more and be more productive. We hope you’ll make good use to it. This is the right opportunity, and once combined with hard work, it will yield to a favourable outcome. Who knows, through the capital assistance lent to you, you will become millionaires in the future”, Evangelista said in Filipino.       

DSWD-NCR Project Development Officer Marydi Alindogan said that they follow social welfare indicators in choosing the beneficiaries of the program. Continuous monitoring of the beneficiaries will also be done to track the status of the program beneficiaries.

From the last quarter of 2013-2014, 22 SEAK associations in Valenzuela City, or a total of 473 Pantawid beneficiaries were served. A sum of  P3,295,700 capital assistance was provided to the Pantawid participants.