FORMER Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has urged Filipinos to continue praying for the government, especially that the country’s leaders would see the need to provide direct stimulus to families and small businesses.

“Ipag-pray po talaga natin na ang gobyerno will see the wisdom na lahat ng pamilyang Pilipino at mga micro-enterprise o maliliit na negosyo ay bigyan ng 10K,” Cayetano said during the live stream of the Sari-saring Pag-asa program on October 19, 2021.

Cayetano and his allies in the Balik sa Tamang Serbisyo (BTS) sa Kongreso have been pushing for the 10K Ayuda Bill which seeks to provide every Filipino family with P10,000 in direct aid to help them with their daily needs as well as put up their own small businesses.

The proposed measure was filed in February and was consolidated into Bayanihan 3, but the provision of P10,000 for every family was not adopted.

This prompted Cayetano and his allies to launch the Sampung Libong Pag-asa program which provides P10,000 in cash aid to selected beneficiaries.

They also spearheaded the Sari-saring Pag-asa program which provides P3,500 in assistance to sari-sari store owners so they can increase the items they sell.

In the latest episode of the program, 75 new beneficiaries were given financial assistance, bringing the total to over 4,400.

ALWAYS BE HAPPY

Tuesday’s episode featured the story of Quezon City resident Rachel Ann Natino, who was selected as beneficiary on August 8, 2021.

With the P3,500 cash aid she received, Natino was able to stock up on her store’s supply of food, shampoo, and soap. She even added soft drinks and snacks to her inventory which sell easily within her community.

“Ito po kasi y’ung mabilis na mabenta, pagkain po kasi lahat po at saka ginagamit sa pang-araw-araw,” Natino shared in a prerecorded video.

Natino also shared pieces of advice to fellow sari-sari store owners who are similarly situated.

“Sa mga kagaya ko po na nagtitinda, kailangan po magaling lang po kayo makisama sa inyong mga customer araw-araw… Bawal po kasi masungit dito sa aming tindahan. Lagi pong dapat masaya,” she said.

“Kailangan malawak ang pang-unawa sa mga bata kasi halos karamihan po, puro mga bata ang bumibili,” she added.

With the help of the cash aid and her good relations with her community, Natino now earns P900-P1,200 a day, allowing her to maintain adequate savings in case of contingencies.