They are noticed and they stand proud. An exemplary family of Catubig, Northern Samar of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)noticeably crossing to the governments call on “Patungo Sa Matuwid Na Daan”, as they engage in Sustainable Livelihood ventures, now recognized as one family’s best practice in the whole province.
Eva and Ricardo Cesar of Brgy.Cagbunga, Catubig Northern Samar simply enjoys being recognized as a model family involved into sustainable livelihood at their very own backyard. They are parents of five children, namely: Sheramae, 21; Sheryl Ann, 17; James Carlo, 15; Demes Erick, 12; and Philip Ian, 9. With five children, whom two of which are in the college level and the meager amount of income Ricardo receive as tricycle driver, they both have seen the need to struggle in sustaining their daily needs.
They became Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in the year 2008, where they belong to the Set 1 areas of implementation.Their involvement to the program has marked as a turning point on their lives. They have acknowledged and properly utilized what government programs have to offer said Eva.
Eva is happy taking the lead with her co-beneficiaries as a Pantawid Pamilya Parent-Leader and the president of Samahang Pantawid Pamilya Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K). Never stops in sharing her thoughts and skills with her members.
It was in February 2012 when Eva and Cesar decided to utilize their small backyard as an area for putting up three small fish ponds for tilapia, a vegetable garden and raising broiler chicken under the Sustainable Livelihood Program. At the start, they targeted their neighbors as market for the said livelihood, and they thought of having an additional small pond to raise more “tilapia” for their own consumption. Less was expected that folks from nearby barangays will also patronize what they have to offer.
According to Eva, they need not a bigger space to put up a fish pond. One just needs to have the skills and ability to utilize what they have. “Yana, masisiring ko nga nakabulig gud an mga programa san DSWD nga Pantawid Pamilya ngan Sustainable Livelihood Program. Sadto, kakuri san pagpaeskwela sa amon 3rd year college kay kulang gud an kita san ak asawa sa pagtraysiko.”, Eva shares. (Now, I could say that programs of the DSWD like the Pantawid Pamilya and Sustainable Livelihood Program have been a big help. Before, it was difficult for us to send our child who’s in 3rd year college because of the meager amount that my husband earns from driving a tricycle). She added that now that they have this livelihood , they no longer find it a hard time looking for ways to sustain their daily needs.
“Bugas ug gatas nala an amon ginpapalit sa tindahan kay mayda na nam utanon, isda ngan manok nga makuha la saluyo sa amon balay,” she said. (Now, we only buy rice and milk from the store since we already have vegetable, fish and chicken from our very own backyard.) She also proudly shared that she’s glad how people would pay visit to their home and ask her to teach them in making a small fish pond.
Eva also shared that it was through the Community Driven Enterprise Development (CDED) “Lakbay Aral” scheme organized by the DSWD under the SEA-K Program that their Project Evaluation Officer endorsed them to most of the stakeholders and other beneficiaries. She got overwhelmed with the reaction of most of the participants of the Lakbay Aral– because they were all amazed athow they manage to build small ponds, a vegetable garden and raise broiler chicken in the small area of their backyard.
According to Delia Culapo, their Brgy. Captain, she is so happy and proud with Eva’s project. Other folks from nearby barangays would go and visit Eva’s place to observe and to be taught how it was done. At times, when no one from the family is around, she voluntarily entertains and gives a tour to those who are interested to learn about her project.
Eva just wish and pray their livelihood would somehow be a success and she looks forward to become one of the suppliers of tilapia, vegetable or broiler chicken in the market of Catubig.