The Office of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano partnered with the City of Biñan, Laguna and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 4 to help more than a hundred of Biñanense sari-sari store owners establish and expand their small businesses through the Sari-saring Pag-Asa Program (SSP).
The event, held on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, was led by Cayetano’s office in coordination with DSWD through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis (AICS) Program.
Under the SSP, which is Cayeteno’s flagship program for budding business owners, the store owners received help in the form of P3,500 in cash and a booklet explaining the program and giving tips on how they can grow their business.
A staunch advocate of sustainable livelihoods, Cayetano said it is “not enough to give people fish — we have to teach them how to fish.”
One of the beneficiaries, Maria Delia Romero, said she considers the assistance a “good surprise” for the city’s sari-sari store owners.
“Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa Diyos sa pagkakataong ito na di inaasahang biyaya ay bigla po naming nakuha. Nagpapasalamat din po ako kay Congresswoman Len Alonte, at Senators Alan Peter Cayetano at Pia Cayetano,” Romero said during the payout at the city’s congressional District Office in Barangay Poblacion.
Aniceta Sumagui Mangilin, another sari-sari store owner, expressed her thanks to God for the SSP program as it is a big help to her family.
“Unang una po, nagpapasalamat tayo sa Panginoon Diyos na sa araw na ito ay hindi po namin inaasahan na mabibigyan kami ng biyaya na galing kay Senator Alan Peter Cayetano at Senator Pia Cayetano, Congresswoman Len, Mayor Arman (Dimaguila), and Vice Mayor Gel. Ito po ay malaking tulong sa aming pamilya. God bless!” Mangilin said.
Another beneficiary, Ruby Amoranto, was also grateful for the seed capital given to them to further expand their small business.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa aming mahal na congresswoman na si Cong. Len Alonte at kay Senator Pia at Alan Peter Cayetano sa dagdag puhunan. God bless you po!” she said.
The distribution of assistance was done with the help of Biñan City Lone District Rep. Marlyn “Len” B. Alonte, City Vice Mayor Angelo “Gel” B. Alonte, and City Administrator Cherry Alonte-Nuñez.
