Back in the day, fishing was the main source of income for Jill and Milca Magcosta to sustain the needs of their six (6) children. While Jill was fishing, Milca was focused on taking care of their children. When there were typhoons and strong winds, it was hard for them to put food on the table.It was even a challenge for them on how they can send all their children to school. Further, they did not own a home , in fact, they lived in the house of Milca’s uncle. Due to insufficiency of their income from fishing, Milca wanted to help her husband and have an additional income but she could not because no one will look after their children.The couple both knew they needed extra income and at the same time, can still care for their children.
Not until the year 2013 came when their household became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the municipality of Anahawan, Southern Leyte. The cash grants they received became an augmentation support to the education of their children, buy vitamins, and nutritional food for children.
For Jill and Milca, their registration to the 4Ps did not mean relying on the cash grants solely. Jill continued to work as a fisherfolk. Milca attended the family development sessions while she carried her younger children to the venue. She used the lessons from FDS to her advantage: she learned how she could start a small business and basics of entrepreneurship. She applied these learnings when their family became recipients of the Sustainable Livelihood Program. Their livelihood on the Agrivet Store with other association members flourished. While they were part of the association, they decided to have their own business– they raised pigs and sold meat. Jill and Milca realized how important it is to have savings for emergency reasons, when their children got hospitalized. All their earnings from the business were not even enough to pay for the bills and medicines of the children. From this discernment, the couple decided to expand their small business of raising pigs and selling meat to open a meat shop, opting to buy livestock such as cows and pigs so that they can sell meat every day. Jill and Milca decided to expand their business in order to have more sales and so that they could save more. Jill stopped fishing and focused on helping Milca in operating their meat shop.
At the present, their meat shop expanded to a mini grocery store. They now live in their own house. Furthermore, the couple’s two older children who are Mike Jyan and Lyka availed the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in college.Mike Jyan is in fourth year college while Lyka Vlist is a second year student. Meanwhile, other younger siblings Khryss, Tristan, Elisha and Hesed are in grade year level.
Due to their Self-Sufficiency Level of Well-being, the Magcosta exited from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Milca would like to inspire others to not give up despite the poverty. She said, “Huwag sumuko kung anuman ang mga pagsubok na dumaan sa buhay. Parating magsumikap at samahan parati ng dasal upang tayo ay gabayan ng Panginoon. Sa kabila ng aming paghihirap kami ay ginabayan ng Panginoon. Kami ay naging benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya. Sa aming pagiging benepisyaryo maraming oportunidad na nagbukas, sinikap naming matuto at inaply ang aming mga natutunan para may pagbabago ang aming buhay.”
(credits: DSWD 4Ps ML Eloisa Bayquin)
