GUILLERMA Decear of Barangay Daugnan of Guiguinto town, Bulacan is a livelihood Starter Kit Program and Dagdag Puhunan beneficiary of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Central Luzon who is now earning more than P30,000 a month by making and selling suman (cake made from glutinous rice).
Decear, married with four children, started her small business in 2009 with only P3,000 capital where she was earning P1,000 to P1,500 daily. In 2015, she narrated that the additional P5,000 provided by Dole-Central Luzon helped raised her income to P4,700 on an average daily.
“Aling Lerma” as she is often called, sells suman three times a week and during the months of May and December, her income reaches up to P52,800.
To date, Aling Lerma added that through their earnest diligence as one family in their suman and kakanin business, their lives totally changed. Two of her children finished college and are already working, Mila the eldest as a community marketing officer in one of the prime telecommunications company and Nikki, second to the eldest, as an account officer in a private company as well.
Decear added that they were able to have their house reconstructed from a bungalow to a two-story house. Humbly, she said they were able to buy a new tricycle as transport service of their products and established a good savings account.
She is grateful to the Municipality of Guiguinto and Dole-Central Luzon for the assistance provided.
“Ating pagyamanin,pahalagahan at huwag sayangin ang tulong na ibinibigay ng gobyerno, dahil sa sipag at tiyaga, kami ay nakabangon at talagang nagbago ang aming buhay dahil sa Dole (Let us nourish and not to put to waste the government’s help because with industry and perseverance, we were able to change our lives because of Dole),” she said.
In her delight, Dole-Central Luzon director Zenaida Angara-Campita expressed appreciation to Deacer for sustaining the assistance provided her.
“The department shall continue on its mandate of providing employment opportunities to the people in the community,” Campita said. (PR)