NEARLY 700 families in Manila have been given a chance to start a business of their own or enhance their present business, if any.
Mayor Honey Lacuna, assisted by Vice Mayor Yul Servo and Manila department of social welfare chief Re Fugoso, led the distribution of financial support for 656 families under the city’s capital assistance program (CAP) in San Andres Complex in Malate, Manila, amounting to a total of over P3.2 million.
Lacuna said the lucky recipients who received P5,000 each are from Districts 1 to 6 and Baseco who earlier sought help from the Manila city government so they could have a start-up capital to start a small business or enhance their already existing business through additional funding.
“Alam n’yo po, simula nung ako ay konsehal, isa sa mga laging lumalapit ay mga humihingi ng paunang puhunan. Madami kaming natatanggap na sulat at kadalasan, hindi napapagbigyan lahat dahil hindi naman ganun kalaki ang pondo ng isang lingkod-bayan,” the lady mayor recounts.
She added: “Kaya ginawan naming ng paraan sa pamamagitan ng capital assistance program na nasa ilalim ng mga programa ng Manila department of social welfare. Ito po ay ginagawa isa hanggang dalawang beses sa isang taon.”
The said financial aid, she explained, is meant to be used as start-up capital either for a new business or any other source of livelihood and is not intended to be used for other purposes like paying rent, utilities and the like.
The program according to the mayor, is being implemented to somehow lessen the number of individuals seeking help to so they could embark on a business any other source of livelihood.
“Wala pong maliit kuing pagsusumikapan nating palaguin ang negosyong naiisip natin. May mga kilala ako nag-umpisa sa 500 o 1,000 pero kalaunan, napagtatapos ang mga anak, nagsimula sa maliit na puhunan. Dalangin ko na ang puhunang galing sa inyong pamahalaang-lungsod, na nagsisikap maging masinop sa pondo, ay magamit ninyo nang tama,” Lacuna told the recipients.
“Good luck po sa inyo at sana, sa susunod na taon, mga milyonaryo na kayo. Basta may tiwala, nasa inyo ‘yan, nasa pagsisikap ninyo. Ito na sana ang maging umpisa ng panibagong buhay para sa inyong lahat. Good luck at congratulations,” she said in ending.
Fugoso, for her part, said that the beneficiaries are to receive the whole amount and need not talk to any “commissioner”, even warning that the said unscrupulous individuals must be reported to her office for appropriate action.
“Ang perang ‘yan ay buong-buo n’yong maiuuwi at walang ‘commissioner’ kayo na dapat kausapin. … nasa inyo ‘yan kung gusto ninyong may kahati, pero ang makikihati ay irereport ko sa opisina namin,” said Fugoso, who lamented that there are scheming individuals who make it appear to some gullible recipients that he or she made it possible for the said recipient to be included in the list. In exchange, he or she would ask for a portion of the cash aid as ‘commission.’
The CAP is a social service that provides cash grant to eligible poor individuals and families for them to pursue a small business income- generating activity. The grant may also be used as a support and an additional capital to the existing viable micro-enterprise of the target beneficiary.
