Govt livelihood loan assistance boon to small entrepeneurs

To Madeline and Romel de Asis of Brgy. Simeon, Jaro this city, the financial assistance they have availed from the “Isang Bayan, Isang Produkto, Isang Milyong Piso” livelihood project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is God's answer for source of capital to augment their business venture of producing soya drinks.

Madeline, 40 years old, is a nurse by profession who together with husband Romel, a theologian, manage the family business which they started in 1999 from a meager capital. This came from the sale of computers and photocopying machine that they sold when they closed their computer business in Estancia, about 135 kms. away from Iloilo City.

Madeline recalled that when she was pregnant with her first child her husband encouraged her to use milk preparation out of soya which was given to them by one of their professors. This is to replace the expensive commercial milk for pregnant women that she was buying that time. Everytime, her husband prepares the soya drink there would be an excess which they give to visitors or relatives who later gave them good feedbacks.

Soya is an excellent source of high quality protein, is low in saturated fats and is cholesterol-free. Recent research has indicated that soya has several beneficial effects on health in addition to its nutritional benefits. It has an identified estrogen like substance called isoflavone which lowers the risk of cancer, menopausal disorder and enhances the immunity.

Romel said the knock on the door of their rented house in Estancia, sometime in 1999, by an old man to give his testimonial about the curative effect of soya milk to his athritis and his sleeping problems was enough cue for him and his wife to start a business venture. They were positive with the thought that the venture will lead them towards the realization of their simple desires in life to help lessen the jobless and provide the needy, food for the table.

In 2000 their business was already growing and with enough capital they transferred from Estancia to Iloilo City where they put up a factory in her father's vacant lot in Jaro.  During this period they ventured into product sampling in one of the city's big supermarkets and the response was good that allowed them to pay their workers way above others. In 2003 they were given an opportunity to participate in the trade exposition of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at the SM Megamall in Manila. Since then, they were able to penetrate big malls in Manila.    

Like any business, theirs was not spared from a financial anxiety. Sometime in August last year, both husband and wife, thought of closing shop by the fact that the malls they were supplying with their products pay them very late so their capital was slowly draining going to the salaries of their workers.

“But God is good, when He somekind of guided the mother of popular young actor Paolo Contis to take notice of our product displayed at the mall and to our surprise later, purchased in tons”,

said Madeline. She said the mother of this young actor used the soya drink for the feeding project of a certain Foundation. 

Then the money from the malls started also to come in and the positive words from the Iloilo City Planning & Development Office (ICPDO) about the the approval of their application for the “Isang Bayan, Isang Produkto, Isang Milyon Piso” livelihood assistance project of President Arroyo.  

Romel said he was not already expecting about the financial assistance because there were many SMEs applicants who also applied for it and it was election period that time.

Mrs. Corazon Idano, Project-in-Charge of the said livelihood assistance project said that Madelyn is one of the four beneficiaries of the project. They were granted P350,000, the highest amount granted from the P1 million check turned-over by President Arroyo to Mayor Jerry Trenas in one of her visits here in the city. The money was taken from the Presidential Social Fund. The project is one of the strategies in attaining the 1 million job per year thrust of the President.

Romel said the money came in, when they needed to purchase a machine to cope with the demand of their flourishing business as they now have 28 branches that can be found in Mindanao, Bacolod City and Panay Island. Part of the amount was used as their rolling capital and with some amount left in the bank.

“Slowly, we are improving our product in terms of packaging and marketing. We are in no hurry, all we aim is to help others”, said Madeline who was once into missionary work.

Despite the lure of the nursing profession abroad, Madeline, a mother of three has learned to love her business. She is very grateful for the financial support they have received from the government which helped her and Romel keep their business going and continue to be God's channel of blessing to others. (PIA)