Success does not always come easily on the journey toward a sustainable livelihood. Some communities have it through doubt, setbacks and hard choices until perseverance, collective action and a willingness to learn slowly turn challenges into opportunities.
The Ammok Bibbila Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) in Taggay, Pinukpuk, Kalinga is a good example of this. They had some major setbacks in the beginning. Still their living effort went on. Started as a little community business and turned into more than that. Now it helps members make money. It helps with food needs, too. It gives people more confidence and control over their lives. This change also touches the larger community.
A Community Looking for an Opportunity
Farming is an integral part of everyday life in Taggay, Pinukpuk, Kalinga. Sitios Ammok and Bibbila mostly rely on staple agricultural products such as corn, rice, and banana for living. Like many small-scale farmers, they face challenges that make it hard to sustain profits, such as limited financial resources, changing weather patterns, and fluctuating market prices.
These realities led 19 residents to band together to establish the Ammok Bibbila SLPA on May 7, 2024. The Association got its name by combining the two Sitios where its members reside and are organized. The Association aims to create sustainable livelihood opportunities while strengthening the economic well-being of its members’ families.
Through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the group explored an enterprise that could address the needs and opportunities in their community.
Guided by the social mobilization and capability-building activities of SLP, the Association agreed on a chicken egg production enterprise, which is the most feasible venture for the community. This decision was based on available local resources, existing market demand, and the absence of commercial poultry farms operating in the community.
On November 6, 2024, the Association received the livelihood grant of ₱325,446.00. They built a poultry house and purchased cages, layer hens, feeds, vitamins, and other necessary supplies. Throughout the process, the Association worked diligently with the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian. Swiftly, after two months, the Association launched its egg production enterprise on January 27, 2025, with an initial stock of 336 layer hens.
When the Journey Became Difficult
The first few months of operation were promising. The Association collected about 10 trays of eggs daily, drawing consumers from neighboring barangays like Sacpil, Malagant, Aciga, Wagud, Ammacian, and Kattabogan. However, as the enterprise grew, so did the Association’s internal problems.
Its president resigned due to relocation, and four members withdrew voluntarily from the Association . This reduced its membership from 19 to 14 active members. Soon, it became a challenge for some members to keep up with their assigned tasks and rotation schedules, creating an extra workload for active members
Treasurer Ramon A. Bulnosen, who lived near the poultry farm, took primary responsibility for overseeing the operations. As his workload grew, his sister and niece volunteered to assist with daily operations without compensation. However, a more serious problem arose when 66 laying hens died, significantly affecting production and income.
On May 16, 2025, the Association contacted the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian and collected blood samples for laboratory testing. Findings showed that the laying hens had not been vaccinated before delivery, which increased their vulnerability to disease. Veterinary authorities subsequently recommended the culling of the remaining affected hens.
The first monitoring visit reflected the seriousness of the setback. The Association recorded a net loss of ₱73,604.00. For a newly established Association, such a loss was a devastating blow. Yet, instead of abandoning the project, the members chose to continue. They believed that the resources, time, and labor already invested in the enterprise should not go to waste. Their decision marked an important turning point.
Choosing to Learn, Choosing to Continue
The members chose to learn from the experience rather than let the setback define them. With technical assistance and its own experience, the Association improved its poultry management and adopted better operational strategies. It also restructured members’ roles and responsibilities based on their capacity and availability. This allowed the group to function more efficiently while encouraging more participation and accountability.
Before long, their persistence paid off. Demonstrating a remarkable turnaround, the enterprise reversed its initial loss of ₱73,604.00, generating a net income of ₱41,547.99 during the second monitoring visit and ₱52,667.00 during the third. Despite ongoing poultry mortality challenges, the enterprise remained profitable, recording an income of ₱26,006.66 during the fourth monitoring period.
For the Association, the journey was about more than recovering losses. It was about discovering what they could achieve when they worked together. Their setbacks transformed into opportunities, and with perseverance, accountability, and collective effort, a struggling livelihood can grow into a more resilient and sustainable enterprise.
From Livelihood Beneficiary to Community Leader
At the heart of this profound transformation stands Ramon A. Bulnosen, the main caretaker of the poultry farm’s daily operations. From tracking feeding schedules and hen productivity to coordinating maintenance. Armed with minimal knowledge of poultry production, his openness to learning allowed him to master the practical skills needed to lead
His dedication to improving his poultry farming knowledge through technical guidance and self-learning clearly mirrored the enterprise’s financial turnaround. Moreover, his leadership skills improved. He learned the importance of patience, effective communication, and sound decision-making in managing an association of members with different personalities, opinions, and levels of participation.
His participation in SLP taught him discipline, cooperation, accountability, perseverance, and teamwork. His journey illustrates how livelihood interventions can empower individuals not only economically, but also personally and professionally.
A Community Moving Forward
The Ammok Bibbila SLPA’s journey demonstrates that sustainable livelihood development is not achieved through financial assistance alone. It is strengthened by the members’ willingness to learn, adapt, and work together despite challenges.
With the support of SLP, technical assistance, and the Association’s collective determination, the members have gradually transformed their project into a viable source of income that empowers the entire community.
The enterprise contributed to the availability of fresh eggs in the locality, reducing the need for residents to rely on suppliers from distant communities. Its commission-based egg delivery system has created additional income opportunities for participating members and their household representatives. From a small farming community with limited livelihood opportunities, the Ammok Bibbila SLPA continues to build a more resilient and sustainable future.
Their story reminds us that success is not always measured by how smoothly a journey begins, but by the courage to continue, the willingness to learn, and the strength of a community that refuses to give up.#DSWD FO CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Joanna Marie M. Caponpon-Apostol, PDO II – SLP SMO, contributed by Sharmaine P. Chocowen, SLP Kalinga PDO II with Vanessa Collado, Intern
