Ex-factory worker to put up sari-sari store under DOLE grant
By NiΓ±a Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — For Yolanda U. Patentes, a 57-year-old displaced worker from this city, Labor Day 2025 brought not just a commemoration but a tangible symbol of hope and resilience. Patentes was awarded a livelihood grant worth nearly 34,000 pesos in the form of a ‘Bigasan and Sari-Sari Store’ package from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga.
A resident of Barangay Maug, Patentes previously worked at Richmond Plywood Corporation (RICHPLY) but lost her job six years prior when her contract ended. Following her separation, her daughter, Jesiel U. Patentes, now 25, took over her position at the same factory.
Tragedy struck in 2020 when Jesiel suffered a devastating workplace accident. Her hair became entangled in a machine, causing irreparable head injuries that left her unable to work. While the company covered all medical expenses, Yolanda faced the immense challenge of becoming the sole provider for her family while simultaneously caring for her daughter, who now has a physical disability. The weight of this responsibility often felt overwhelming.
Being selected as a beneficiary of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) proved to be an answered prayer for Yolanda and her family.
“Pasalamat gyud ko sa Ginoo ug sa DOLE nga naapil mi aning livelihood [project]. Dako kaayo ning tabang sa amo labi na kay naa koy anak nga PWD. Bag-o ra man pud gani sya na-operahan sa iyang ulo (I am very grateful to God and to DOLE for giving us this livelihood project. This is a very big help for us especially since I have a daughter who is a PWD. She even underwent a surgery on her head just recently),” Patentes expressed with heartfelt gratitude.
Beyond the crucial economic relief it provides, the DILP serves as a vital instrument in empowering marginalized individuals, offering them a renewed chance at life and the means to create positive change in their circumstances.
“Pinaagi aning sari-sari store nga gihatag sa amo, naa na gyud kalingawan ug bantay-bantay akong anak samtang naa sa balay (With this sari-sari store that is given to us, my daughter will now have something to do at home as she will be watching over it),” Patentes shared excitedly. She believes that having this small business will provide Jesiel with a much-needed hobby to distract her from the pain of her disability and instill a sense of hope despite her limitations.
The DILP, also known as the ‘Kabuhayan Program’ (Livelihood Program), aims to support poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers by providing financial assistance and training to help them establish or strengthen their livelihood projects.
Target beneficiaries of the DILP include displaced workers, low-income earners, marginalized farmers and fisherfolk, persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, parents of child laborers, and rebel returnees. The assistance provided can take various forms, such as financial grants, starter kits for small businesses, or ‘negosyo sa kariton’ (Nego-Kart) for street vendors.
In Yolanda’s case, she received 33,885 pesos worth of goods and raw materials to enhance her existing small ‘sari-sari’ store (variety store) and establish a ‘bigasan’ (rice retail) component. This additional capital is expected to significantly boost her income and provide much-needed sustenance for her family’s needs. (NJGD, PIA Caraga)
