FISHING FOR DEVELOPMENT. Pantawid Pamilya and livelihood program beneficiary Rosalina Ocho Acero tends to her fish vending business in Poblacion Caraga, Davao Oriental.

Rosalina, 43, is a resident of Purok San Flower, Barangay Poblacion, Caraga Davao Oriental, one of the towns in the east coast affected by Typhoo Pablo in December 2012.  She is married to Eleseo, 42, and they have four children.  Two of their children are presently attending school.

Rosalina has been an active Pantawid Pamilya Program beneficiary since the program started in October 2008.  Caraga is part of the Set 1 of the Pantawid Pamilya implementation along with Manay town and Davao City.

According to her, “Dako jud and natabang sa amua sa Pantawid nga program diin nakadugang suporta sa among mga anak nga nag-eskwela ug sa uban pa nga mga importanteng panginahanglanon (Pantawid Pamilya program has helped us a lot. It has supported our children’s school needs and other basic needs).”

Her husband’s income is derived from fishing and she augments the family’s income by peddling fish which she started in 2001. The couple earns a minimum of Php 800.00 every week when catch is good.

On May 22, 2013, Rosalina availed a Php 10,000.00 capital seed fund through the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program. She used the amount as additional fund to scale up her fish vending business.

Ever eager to attain a better stake in life, the couple recently engaged in livestock production. Each family member in the Acero household is striving hard and is joyfully supporting each other to uplift and sustain their improved living condition.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program is a capability building initiative that develops the entrepreneurial and socio-economic skills of poor households through income-generating opportunities, enhancing their access to basic social services. On the other hand, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program provides “conditional cash assistance” to identified poor households. Family beneficiaries are required to send their children to school and keep them healthy in order to claim their cash grants. DSWD