Her everyday ordinary routine, a small table, along the highway, selling vegetables, with a hundred peso capital.

Adelfa Jumuad, 50 years old, is married to Buenaventura Jumuad. They have six children, Eljean, Eljon, Ivy, Ivene, Judel, and Jakemar.

The family lives a simple life, they raise pigs, cows, and carabaos for a living. At times, they are farm workers, they harvest copras…

It was never easy for the family, until there was a break. In 2007 a survey to approve 4Ps beneficiaries were conducted, the family was one of those included, but they were still subject for approval and validation. After 2 years, in 2009, the list of validated beneficiaries was released, and the family was approved to be beneficiaries. This was the start of a new hope for the family and they worked hard for this.

After being a beneficiary of the 4Ps, Jumuad along with other beneficiaries from the community, decided to avail of the Capital Fund, given by the Sustainable Livelihood Program. Not all of the 4Ps beneficiaries decided to avail of it, but those who wanted to, did the best they could to be able to get this help granted to their group. Their application did not take long, after several months, they were already given orientation. After some time, they were granted their Group Capital from the Seed Capital Fund amounting to 295,000 pesos.

But things did not go as easy as planned; the amount was not ready for encashment yet. So Jumuad and the group had a meeting and they decided to find another way to start their business even without their money yet. The group decided to contribute 100pesos each to be able to fund the construction of their building. Even with the contribution of the members, their money was not enough to fund the construction, since not all members were able to give their contribution, because other members, had nothing to give at all. So they decided to borrow money from an engineer, which was Buenaventura’s cousin. The group also spoke to the Barangay Chairman and asked for an area for the construction of their business. The chairman gave them their space and construction started. During one of the group’s meetings, Jumuad asked the members which business they wanted to venture in to. Some of the members suggested a pawnshop, some suggested raising hogs. But since the suggested projects do not have recorded proof of success yet, especially in hog raising, Jumuad suggested “bigasan”. The members agreed to her suggestion, since rice was in demand, and all of them do buy rice.

The construction of their building in barangay Bogo of Pagadian City lasted 2 weeks, even after the completion of the building; they did not receive their fund yet. Nevertheless, the group started on their business. They sold 4 kinds of rice, they sold it for P1,000, P1,030, P1,070 and P1,370 for a 25kg sack. They gain 150pesos for each sack they sold cash, and 200 pesos for each sack sold in credit. They offered a 1month to pay term for those who could not pay cash. Their supplies of rice are from Aurora, which Jumuad and some members of the group purchase themselves. They travel to aurora to buy their supplies and they make sure that their rice is pure, and not mixed.

The group’s income was also used for lending, aside from the restock of rice. They offered a 3% interest rate, for a 2,500pesos principal amount, which was payable in 3-4 months. After loans are paid in full, their credit limit would go more than 2,500 pesos.

During payouts, most of the payments are made. This was to ensure that payments are settled and that there was no excuse for not doing so. All of those who bought from them or loaned from them agreed that after 2months of non-payment that the group was given the right to take their payments from the payouts. City Links were also informed about this agreement.

Through Jumuad’s leadership, the group also agreed to penalties, 5pesos for being late in a meeting, and 50pesos for being absent. Jumuad never wanted to be a Parent Leader, she was very young then, she was 16 when all this started and since she already was exhausted from the work as barangay worker. She attempted to let go of her position as the association’s president, since she was already a Parent Leader, but to no avail. Members of the association did not want her to leave, because they all depended on her. Some of the members even begged to her, crying.

“Ling ayaw jud undang Ling kay kung mohawa bitaw ka luoy na intawon ang SLP”

She answered “ngano man luoy nga daghan man opisyales”

“ikaw lng man among gisaligan”

 According to Jumuad, leading the association was never easy.  There were instances where she and one other member had to argue on things that the member wanted and Jumuad thought was wrong. Some other member also became more of a reson to destroy the group rather than helping build it stronger. But all of these were settled along the way. She also needed to go to ask for the payments from those who loaned herself, since some of the members did not want to help. As president of the group, she had to study all of the 59 members’ personality, to be able to handle the group better.

When the business started, Jumuad and other members had to go buy supplies themselves, but today, they only need to make a phone call, and sacks of rice are delivered to their association. As soon as supplies are delivered, they already pay for them as well as the 17pesos per sack delivery fee.

December of 2016 was their store’s 1^st year anniversary. They had earned 146,000pesos which they divided and distributed among the members and officials who took turns in the operation of the store. Each member received 2600pesos which was really a big help for them. According to Jumuad, members told her that if it was not for the help of 4Ps and SLP, they would not have the chance to eat good quality rice, they would still be eating corn until now. Their children, having been able to finally eat good quality rice, do not want to go back to eating corn again.

Before Jumuad became a beneficiary of 4Ps and SLP, her capital for her small business was just 100pesos, now, she has 1000pesos which she can turn into a bigger profit. She earns 5,000 to 8,000 per month. This is where she gets money for their daily expenses, as well as the children’s needs in school. Because of the help they gained from DSWD, and the profit they gain from the now better business, they were also able to buy farm animals, which they later sell too.

“As usa ka president kinahanglan dapat kita mga opisyales kita ang magsilbing model sa grupo, kita mismo mga opisyales ang maguna sa tanang kalihukan para makuha nato ang kalambuan sa grupo.’

“Pasalmat lang jud ko ug dako sa DSWD kay naa nitabang namo sa mga 4Ps beneficiaries, labi na jud sa SLP kay, saunang wala pa pod ang 4Ps lisod kaayo among kinabuhi.” – Jumuad