In photo: Thanks DSWD! The family of Ritchelle poses happily saying DSWD programs had improved their quality of life.
“Good people obtain pure joy not because they do great things but because they do small acts of kindness with great love and with a caring heart.”
Ritchelle Soriano is one of the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and a parent leader from Brgy. Casambalangan, Sta. Ana, Cagayan. Her husband was also chosen to be employed at the “Trabahong Lansangan Program” of DSWD and DPWH since October 16, 2011 to present.
It was on February 04, 2012 that Ritchelle engaged in Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K), one of the strategies under the Sustainable Livelihood Program of DSWD which helps to improve the socio-economic status of the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. With the capital seed fund or money she received from SEA-K, she began cooking for “kakanin” and sells it in their barangay.
Hand in hand, the couple worked hard until they had enough income to buy their own motorcycle to be used for their transportation to work, for their children going to school and for her to deliver the “kakanin” to the buyers.
Ritchelle now does not only cooked “kakanin” but she also produce and sells “bagoong” and dried fish which she learned from the conduct of Basic Business Management Training conducted by the Project Development Officer (PDO), Mr. Jerome Versoza.
With them earning a good standing in the community, Ritchelle’s family was hailed as the “Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya for 2012” during the Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya spearheaded by DSWD Field Office 02 last year. Ritchelle’s family was awarded certificate of recognition, a check amounting to Eight Thousand Pesos (P8, 000.00) and overnight accommodation with the whole family in a hotel in Tuguegarao City.
Fortunate enough, the family of Ritchelle was given more chances in life to go on and face the struggles and problems of life. “Nagpapasalamat po kami sa DSWD sa kanilang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program at Sustainable Livelihood at tinulungan kaming tumawid tungo sa kaunlaran”, Ritchelle proudly said. ### By: MARK JEROME M. VERZOSA, PDO II, 1st District of Cagayan