Dinapigue, Isabela, a coastal town where life is tied to the sea, has always known the struggles and hopes that come with survival. For three 4Ps beneficiaries, Erlisto Carreon Lahum, Rhea Guillermo Florendo, and Floranel Bernardo Concepcion, their journey was never easy. But through the Enhanced Support Services Intervention (ESSI) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), they proved that with the right support, determination, and faith, families can rise above hardships.

Life was never easy before 4Ps and ESSI came into their lives. Erlisto’s small sari-sari store barely earned enough to cover their family’s daily needs. Rhea took on whatever odd jobs she could find in the community, often working without the assurance of income for the next day. Floranel, on the other hand, juggled side, hustles selling products and offering e-loading services, just to keep the household afloat.

Every day was a struggle, filled with constant worry about where to get money for food, school expenses, or unexpected emergencies. The cash grants from 4Ps became a lifeline, giving them a chance to breathe amidst the hardships. Yet, deep inside, they knew that true progress meant learning to stand on their own, just as every 4Ps beneficiary dreams to one day achieve. For them, life felt like being fishers braving rough seas with fragile boats.

The help from ESSI changed their course. In 2024, they were given sari-sari store starter kits as a supplementary support to the cash grants and were trained on how to properly manage a small business under the program. DSWD provided the resources, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shared knowledge through entrepreneurship trainings, and the Local Government Unit (LGU) supported the process.

To encourage commitment, the LGU launched a challenge system that rewarded the top-performing sari-sari stores with ₱5,000 each. This motivated them to manage their stores better, knowing their hard work could be recognized.

For Erlisto, discipline and patience paid off. He reinvested his earnings, expanded his inventory, and eventually improved their home. His store now helps secure his children’s education.

For Rhea, the sari-sari store meant stability. No longer relying on uncertain jobs, she now has a steady income to cover daily needs and lighten the family’s burdens.

For Floranel, the store became a turning point. From multiple side hustles, she now manages a single, steady livelihood that provides for her children’s schooling and household needs.

Their stores are more than businesses. From 4Ps to their own, this shifted their lifelines like boats that carry them steadily across once-rough seas.

All three are united in their gratitude to DSWD and 4Ps. They believe the program did not just give them help but it gave them hope, skills, and the confidence to dream again. Their message to fellow beneficiaries: treasure every support you receive, use it wisely, and never stop working hard for your family’s future.

The stories of Erlisto, Rhea, and Floranel show that 4Ps is not only about cash grants. It is about empowerment. ESSI taught them how to “fish,” and gave them the tools to navigate their own journey.

In Dinapigue, where the sea reflects both struggle and promise, sari-sari stores now stand as proof that with guidance and perseverance, families can build lasting change. Their success reminds us all: when we teach families how to fish, we give them more than survival. We give them the chance to sail toward a brighter horizon.

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