The cool breeze in the morning air brushes against the stalks of rice in the paddy. As it moves, its golden grains sway in harmony over the vast horizon. The carabao on the other side of the paddy wallows on a mud hole as it takes rest after a hard work in the field. The silence is casually interrupted by chirping birds and buzzing insects. This is a typical scenery in barangay Cumabao in the town of Tumauini, a first-class municipality situated in the province of Isabela.
The town has been the refuge of the 24 members of the Cumabao Feeds Retailing Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (DSWD FO2). Their lives typically revolve on the familiar cycle that their families had been experiencing over the years. With little opportunity present, a life of poverty seems to be the only option for them. Majority of them are tenant farmers. This line of work was passed down from the generations before them. Some are housewives who devote their time in rearing children while others opted to do whatever jobs available even though unstable. Albeit the difficult times, they kept their hopes high and never lost sight on what lies beyond the horizon.
On October 2018, SLP opened an opportunity for an alternative income. They were organized into an association and provided with capital augmentation through Seed Capital Fund (SCF) amounting to P245,000. The group decided to venture in feeds retailing. Out of the grant given they were able to put up a physical store and bought raw materials and supplies. The SLPA exemplified a sound organizational structure as seen on the smooth operations of their project. The 21 active members take turns in purchasing stocks, manning the store and managing their finances. They also employ division of labor and transparency in their business operations. They also maintain good record keeping on all of their financial/business transactions.
They sell feeds and supplements for livestock and poultry, earning an average of P1,000 per day. They operate daily from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, catering the needs of their customers within the barangay and nearby barangays. As agreed, their sales are directly deposited to their savings account in a weekly basis. With their persistence and dedication, after three years from the date of their organization, they were able to gain a profit amounting to P240,000. The profit was then equally divided among the members. From 2021 to present, they were able to generate a total of P212,147 worth of savings.
The financial gains from the livelihood endeavor helped the members augment the needs of their families. In times of emergencies, the members can also lend from the association with minimal interest. As part of their incentive, the association organizes year end fellowships. They also conduct gift giving and raffle draws out of their profit. Apart from it, their entrepreneurial capacities were honed. It made them realize that nothing is impossible as long as they have the will to make things happen. Moreover, they found solace knowing that they have each other’s back in hurdling the challenges that may come along. Never did they imagine that one day, they will be managing their own business. Needless to say, that individuality counts but teamwork matters most.
The entire experience of being a member of the association led them to new paths and breaking barriers. Success is on the tip of their fingers but it’s a long way to go. With sheer grit and a hopeful heart, they are more than ready to embrace what the other side of the horizon has to offer. ###Written by: Melisen Taquiqui/SLP Social Marketing Officer