NED, Lake Sebu-The South Cotabato Convergence Program for Poverty Reduction under the administration of Gov. Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. opens another sari-sari store at Sitio Kabatang at Brgy. Ned, Lake Sebu.
According to Community Affairs Officer IV Maria Ana Uy, the first sari -sari-sari store project was successfully opened early this year at Sitio Lamdel of the same barangay and they decided to expand the project to Sitio Kabatang.
“The team was delighted upon knowing that the project was successful, in a meager capital the Blit project tripled its capital funds.” – Uy said,
She added the community is now enjoying the presence of the store since they don’t have to go anymore to the adjacent sitios to buy their basic home needs.
The concept of Kabatang sari-sari store project is the same as Sitio Lamdel wherein the convergence team put up a seed capital coming from their personal pocket for the establishment of the store.
Once the store became operational, and it has already gained profit, the capital will be returned and other sitios who are interested to put up the same project can also do the same.
Anita Sina, elected president of Kabatang Tribal Women’s Sari-Sari Store said in an interview that they are very fortunate that the convergence team has chosen them for the sari-sari store expansion project.
“Iingatan at lalo pa po naming palakihin ang sari-sari store na ibinigay ng convergence team sa amin” (We will take good care and make the sari-sari store grow further) – she said,
Aside from the sari-sari store, the team conducted an orientation to Kabatang women’s group on how to handle the store. They also distributed used clothing, toys, and vegetable seedlings to the community; and conducted geo-tagging of water sources.
Present during the launching were PPDO’s Community Affairs Officer IV Maria Ana Uy, Cris Pingkunn Fuentes, Engr. Montazer Latip, Romel Evangelio, Lebert Ulo (OPAg) and Efren Francisco.
