This story will transport you to the Municipality of Banaue in Ifugao, the home of the Banaue Rice Terraces, regarded as the 8th Natural Wonder of the World and the Natural Treasure of the Philippines. The municipality comprises 18 barangays and boasts over 18 tourist spots, frequently
visited by tourists and riders. The influx of tourists in the area drives demand for various products and services. The people of Ifugao, known for their woodcrafts, weaves, and basketry, took this opportunity to showcase their skills and talents through the products sold in pasalubong centers.
Ms. Shiloh L. Balenga, a local, found her entrepreneurial profession in selling wood handicrafts. This has become her supplementary source of income for years. Sadly, the COVID-19 dramatically affected the community and the local businesses. Government and private employees lost their jobs, business owners had to close down their businesses, some had to halt their operations. Tourism became one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic. The number of tourists in Banaue rapidly decreased due to the travel restrictions and widespread lockdowns imposed by the Government. Balenga was among the devastated business owners considering that tourists are her primary customers. Although she maintained contact with her customers online, strict travel restrictions prevented her from delivering her products. With that, her enterprise was on the verge of collapse due to a depleted revolving fund, which had been used for family expenses.
Balenga’s savings were used to buy her family’s basic necessities for them to overcome the effect of the pandemic. As the restrictions extended to months, her family had to depend on food assistance from the local government and from relatives. While trying to make ends meet, the dreams of her children to pursue their tertiary education added to her burdens. As much as she wanted to financially support her children’s education, the extension of the pandemic worried her that she might not be able to send them to school. With so much on her hands, she slowly became discouraged and saw no hope for their struggling enterprises. The financial strain was so severe that they struggled to afford even their basic needs.
In response to the adverse effect brought by the pandemic, the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) has provided recovery intervention by providing Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) to low-income families. After meeting the qualifications required by the Program, Balenga was able to receive an amount of PhP 15,000.00. This grant provided hope for her struggling business, allowing her to purchase raw materials and resume their operations.
The Sustainable Livelihood Program, as a capacity-building program of DSWD, has ensured that the recipients of LAG utilize the provided assistance properly. Through the SLP Monitoring Project Development Officer, Balenga was provided with continuous technical assistance and guidance in managing her business. Aside from the support from DSWD, she was encouraged to attend training and seminars offered by other agencies to improve her business skills. She attended various entrepreneurial training sessions such as Digital Content Creation, Canva Training, and Digital Marketing, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry- Ifugao through the Negosyo Center based in Banaue. According to Balenga, the trainings provided enlightened her with the weaknesses and threats in her business and turned them into strengths and opportunities. She developed effective marketing strategies and improved her networking with suppliers and customers, maintaining a competitive edge.
By leveraging her acquired knowledge, Balenga established strong networks with potential buyers and suppliers, resulting in a progressive cash flow. As she gained confidence in running her business, she actively participated in trade fairs. She has successfully brought her products to the National Impakabsat Trade Fair at Alabang Festival Mall in 2022, where she earned PhP700,000.00 from selling different wood carvings and other souvenir items. She has also participated in trade fairs conducted in other provinces within the Cordillera Administrative Region. In 2023, she was able to earn an amount of approximately PhP200,000.00 during the Bodong Festival in Tabuk City, Kalinga and PhP 120,000.00 at the Provincial Trade Fair during the Lang-ay Festival in Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Over time, Balenga’s business flourished, enabling her to hire part-time workers and expand her product line to include jewelry and furniture. With her blooming business, she was able to acquire a vehicle that she uses in delivering her products to nearby municipalities and provinces. Her enterprise has significantly improved her life, providing for her family’s daily needs. She was able to send her children to college, taking away her earlier worries that she cannot financially support their education. Her first child is studying BS in Medical Technology at Saint Louis University (SLU), her second is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and her third is studying Bachelor of Science in Criminology, both studying at the University of Cordillera (UC). Despite the high costs of their education, her business covers these expenses. Furthermore, she extends her support to relatives in need. This experience has proven to be a great blessing for her and part of it was from the support the SLP had given her.
Through diligent monitoring of the Angels in Red Vest of Ifugao, she has successfully sustained and diversified her products, now selling a variety of products including sungka, wood trays, various basketry, wood handicrafts, furniture, and jewelry. Her enterprise generates a monthly income ranging from PhP60,000.00 to PhP70,000.00. Moreover, she earns an average of PhP150,000.00 or more whenever she participates in trade fairs. Her determination serves as a testament on how the efforts of the government are not put to waste.
Balenga expressed her profound gratitude to DSWD SLP- Ifugao stating, “Agyamanak unay ti livelihood nga naawat ko ti naimbag nga opisana yu. Salamat ta sinabat yu ti pagkasapulak idi talaga nga awanan akun. Haan ko ammu nagbanagan ti daytuy nga business ko nu awan jay 15,000.00 nga inted yu nga pangsupusup jay matmatay nga business ko. Itultuloy yu ti naimbag nga programa t gobyerno ta adu pay t matulongan yu. (I am very grateful for the livelihood assistance I received from your office. I truly appreciate how you met the needs of my business when I had nothing. I don’t know if my business would still be operating without the 15,000.00 pesos your office provided for my struggling business. Please continue to implement your excellent programs, as they have the potential to help many more people.)” #DSWD-CAR, Clinton P. Manachao, Monitoring Project Development Officer and Jezebel L. Gumatay, SLP Social Marketing Officer
