Flora, Apayao – Setbacks are just stepping stones to success specially to those who refuse to give up.  A small yet thriving sari-sari store owned by Nonie Pasion, a former Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary stands as a testament that courage, determination, passion and hard work can rebuild whatever seemed lost.

Before the nightmare brought by the COVID 19 pandemic, Nonie’s small business provided a constant income for her family. Her earnings in the store was enough to cover their everyday expenses as well as her children’s basic needs in education. Thus, she decided to graduate from the 4Ps on March 2020 to give way to other family that the Program may reach.

However, the pandemic brought unforeseen challenges during the two-year lockdown. There was limited transportation and access to supplies from Cagayan turned complicated for them as a small enterprise. Furthermore, Nonie consumed her capital to support her family, specially that due to her husband’s illness medical expenses piled up.

But in 22 July 2022, hope came in the form of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). She was able to qualify for a Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) amounting to PhP15,000.00. This grant, together with the help from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), helped her re-establish her store and provide essential goods to her community and neighboring barangays.

With her business back on its track, Nonie was able to record an average daily gross sale of PhP20,000.00 and a net income of PhP 4,000.00. She was also able to expanded her business adding some products such as ice cream. As her hard work bore fruit, she acquired other valuable assets needed in her business including freezer, refrigerator, tricycle and motorcycle. Her earnings sustained her family’s daily needs but also covered her husband’s medical expenses until his passing. Also, she was able to support her three nephews who had lost their father and were abandoned by their mother.

Beyond personal benefits, her business significantly has a big impact to her community. It was able to provide easier access to the people of Flora, Apayao to goods and supplies which help in reducing their dependence on markets in Cagayan. This helps the barangay’s economic growth and more importantly, she became a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, demonstrating the power of steadfastness and proper utilization of the government aid.