The San Juan City local government, together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), distributed cash cards to 100 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the city as part of its efforts in helping the business sector recover from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dubbed as the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG), the distribution of the cash cards containing P10,000 each was held at the San Juan City Hall Atrium and was led by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and DTI-NCRO Area 3 Head Elma Viray.
According to Zamora, PPG is a livelihood seeding and entrepreneurship development program of the DTI which aims to assist small businesses like sari-sari stores, parlors, and others that were badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are very thankful to the DTI for being a constant partner of our local government especially during the pandemic,” Zamora said.
He said the program will be a big help to small business owners who have qualified for the PPG program and reminded them to make use of this opportunity wisely.
“Tandaan po natin, ang sampung libong ito na ibibigay natin, hindi ito para ikonsumo natin. Ito ay para paikutin natin, para palaguin natin. Sapagkat kung yung sampung libong ito, kung tayo ay masinop, kung tayo ay maabilidad, madiskarte, at magaling, yung sampung libo pwedeng maging dalawampung libo, tatlompung libo, isang daang libo. Nasa atin po iyon kung gaano tayo kasigasig (Let's all remember that this P10,000 that we have distributed should be spent properly. This money is to be used for helping you grow your businesses because this P10,000, if used wisely and properly, can grow to P20,000, P30,000, or even P100,000. It is all up to us on how we can achieve this)," the mayor explained.
The project was coordinated with San Juan City’s Skills and Livelihood Training Center. The beneficiaries were identified by the DTI in collaboration with the barangay councils, City Social Welfare and Development Office, and Urban Poor Affairs Office.
The selection process includes profiling and validation to determine the beneficiaries’ eligibility.
"Kaya po kayo ang nandito sapagkat nakitaan namin kayo ng potensyal na palaguin ang pondong ito. Ang strict rule ng DTI, hindi pwedeng kung sino-sino lang, kailangang meron kayong existing small business na pwedeng gamiting pandagdag itong sampung libong ito (The reason why you were chosen is because we saw that you have the potential to grow this fund. The DTI's strict rule is that the beneficiaries must be properly chosen and that they must have an existing small business where this P10,000 can be used as additional capital)," Zamora said.
He added that beneficiaries are required to first attend an Entrepreneurial Seminar to enhance their business skills. The DTI will also conduct monitoring and consultation with beneficiaries to guide them along the way.
On Oct. 10, a total of 300 San Juaneños each received P10,000 financial livelihood assistance from the city government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Zamora, together with other local government officials and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, led the distribution of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) livelihood assistance at the San Juan Gym in San Juan Elementary School.
“Itong P10,000 na ito, pakiusap ko po, gamitin natin nang maayos bilang puhunan or dagdag puhunan sa ating mga negosyo. Wag nating isipin na ‘meron kaming sampung libo, gagastusin na natin’. Hindi ito para gastusin lamang. Ito ay para paikutin at palakahin para pagdating ng ilang araw, ilang buwan eh ito’y lumago nang lumago at makatulong sa inyong mga pamilya (I urge the beneficiaries to use the P10,000 livelihood assistance properly as a capital or additional capital for their own businesses. Please do not think that the aid is to be used for other expenses only. Use the aid properly as a capital or investment so that after days or months, it will grow into a larger sum of money which will help your families),” Zamora explained.
Sen. Go seconded Mayor Zamora, saying “Kung ano pong matatanggap ninyo ngayong araw ay palaguin ninyo. Bibigyan kayo ng puhunan para palaguin ang inyong negosyo. Tandaan niyo pong mas masarap sa pakiramdam kapag pinaghirapan ninyo ang inyong kita (Whatever you receive today, please make it grow. You will be given capital to make your business grow and succeed. Keep in mind that it’s more fulfilling if you have your hard-earned money),”
Aside from the livelihood aid, the senator also raffled off bikes, rubber shoes, and basketballs to some beneficiaries. He also distributed tablets to three students for use in their studies.