The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been instrumental in uplifting the lives of many marginalized sectors and communities in the country by providing capacity building activities and sustainable livelihood to them. One such community is a group of Indigenous people that owns a farm supply and general merchandise in the mountainous area of Barangay Babuyan in Infanta, Pangasinan. 

Before the SLP intervention, the community was struggling to make ends meet. They lacked access to basic services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Their main source of living was farming, but they faced challenges such as limited access to markets, lack of capital, and low productivity.

“Mahirap ang buhay naming mga katutubong magsasaka. Masyado po kaming malayo sa bayan kaya nahihirapan din kaming bumili ng mga pangangailangan hindi lang sa pagsasaka kundi pati sa araw-araw naming pamumuhay (Our lives as indigenous farmers are difficult. We are too far from the town, and it is tough for us to purchase the things we need for farming and daily living),” shared Maricel M. Ballacay, Babuyan Infanta Indigenous SLP Association President.

In 2018, the DSWD Field Office 1 – SLP identified the community as a potential beneficiary under Micro Enterprise and Development Track. The program worked closely with the community to identify their needs, skills, and resources. Through a participatory approach, they developed a sustainable livelihood plan that would address their immediate and long-term needs.

The SLP provided the Babuyan Infanta Indigenous SLPA with training on various skills such as financial management, entrepreneurship, and farm productivity. The program also provided capital assistance to help the community start its own business. They established Farm Supply and General Merchandise that sells various agricultural products.

“Tunay na malaking tulong ang SLP sa aming mga katutubo. Dahil sa programang ito, nabigyan kami ng sapat na halaga at suporta upang makapagsimula ng kabuhayan at makamit ang maginhawang buhay na matagal na naming pinapangarap (Truly, SLP is a great help for our community. The program gave us enough fund and support to start a business and experience a comfortable life that we have been dreaming of for a long time),” said Maricel.

The SLPA has now improved its farming practices which resulted in higher productivity and better-quality products. Also, the Association has now built a steady market for its products, leading to increased profit.

DSWD Field Office 1 – SLP has been a game-changer for many marginalized communities in the region, including Babuyan Infanta Indigenous SLP Association. It empowers the participants and engages them in decision-making to strengthen their sense of ownership and become socially responsible individuals in their community. (by: John Chris B. Zureta, Social Marketing Officer and Mhike Justine R. Bangayan, Project Development Officer II, Sustainable Livelihood Program)