When small help makes a big difference
WHEN Filipinos take full advantage of opportunities, properly utilize available resources, access to little capital brings about meaningful changes in their lives.
This is the life lesson that Mrs. Carmelita Razo or Aling Lita, a market vendor- beneficiary of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s PTK (Presyo-Trabaho-Kita) lending program.
Aling Lita, a vendor at the Magsaysay Fish Market, used to have a hard time making ends meet for her eight children, earning only P150 to P300 a day. Often cash-strapped, she had to depend on ‘5/6’ loan sharks who impose usurious rates.
Aling Carmelita Razo hugs Senator Alan Cayetano to thank him for his PTK (Presyo-Trabaho-Kita/Kaayusan) lending program that enabled her to expand her fish stall business at the Magsaysay Fish Market I Dagupan City. “Malaki ang naitulong ng PTK ni Kuya Alan sa pagpapalaki ng kita ko at sa pagpapaaral ng aking mga anak,” Aling Carmelita said. The senator reiterated his commitment to bring about real change in lives of small entrepreneurs by providing them access to capital through their association.
After the Ulopan Na Sumisigay Ed Dagupan, Inc., (UNSEDI) adopted Sen. Cayetano’s PTK program that enabled it to extend loans to its members, she quickly availed of a P10,000 loan for her small business – selling dried fish in her market stall.
“Talagang nakatulong sa amin. Ang mga umutang sa PTK, ay umunlad din,” Aling Carmelita said. ”Kagaya ko, nagdadaing ako, kung wala yung puhunan na iyon, maplilitan pa ako umutang sa 5/6, kaya konti lang kita ko.”
She said with the help of the PTK, Aling Carmelita was able not only to increase her earnings but finally managed to help fulfill her youngest child’s dream of being a teacher.
“Malaki ang naitulong sa pamilya namin ng PTK,” she said. “Sa PTK at sa tulong ni Kuya Alan, nabago ang buhay namin. Ga-graduate na sa Kolehiyo ang anak ko sa Kolehiyo De Dagupan.”
“Aling Carmelita’s experience serves as an inspiration to me”, said Sen. Cayetano. ” She is a living example of the change we want for our people,” he added.
“To bring about this change among our people, government has to adopt new programs that not only directly help our people survive but help them keep their dignity intact,” the senator stressed.
He said it is PTK’s success stories like Aling Carmelita’s that encourage PTK benefactors from the private sector to continue supporting it and allow him to work with more associations and cooperatives like UNSEDI through the PTK program.
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