Caloocan micro-entrepreneurs owe PEF, NCSD-CCT their livelihood

AMONG the borrowers from NCSD-CCT The Times intyerviewed were Corazon Siya and Rosalinda Dagcasin of Caloocan City.

Together with her son-in-aw, Siya had started a palay buy-and-sell business in Isabela. Initially Siya started the business using her own money around 10 years ago. W she learned about the NCSD-CCT microfinancing, she borrowed money for additional capital.

They buy palay in the farms during harvest time, and then put the palay in a large storage place and when they get enough volume they sell it to big palay traders.

Siya said that through the loan that she got from NCSD-CCT she was able to make some renovations in her house. “It’s really a big help. We don’t have to get money from the family’s budget to improve our house. It’s a person’s shortcoming if he fails.”

Linda Dagcasin on the other hand was running a small ready-to-wear business when she got a loan from NCSD-CCT.

“I don’t have a shop I just sell it to neighbors, friends. I didn’t have a shop because it requires time, we have a lot of other works to do, I have to pay for salesladies but in the case of selling house-to-house I don’t employ people. It’s direct selling,” she said.

Linda’s niece tends their ukay-ukay business. Her niece’s house is a good location to put up a shop and there’s no need to pay for the rent. They sell second hand clothing for P20 a piece. Aside from selling clothing they also sell toys especially during holidays like Christmas.

Linda borrowed P15,000, her maximum loan amount, when she started another venture, a bag business. She sells the bags to tricycle drivers and schoolchildren.

“Selling bags requires bigger capital. I made the loan last Nov. 2010. I’m selling my bags in Novaliches, Bagong Silang, and Bagong Baryo. I get them from Divisoria and sometimes directly from the manufacturer.”

Like Corazon and Linda there are other borrowers from NCSD-CCT, like fish retailers, bakers, junk shop owners, automotive shop and hardware operators. Some small borrowers include small food vendors of lugaw, banana que, sago etc.

Bigger businesses like hardware and bakery, Marian Opeña, the officer in charge of NCSD, said are in the family enterprise category. The maximum amount for this loan is P50,000.

In one case, one family enterprise was able to grow their fish delivery business. Eventually they bought a truck and now they are delivering fish to different markets in Manila.

They initially borrowed a small amount when, they were involved in small scale fish retailing. Now the business has grown but the family hasn’t left CCT, according to Siya.

First time borrowers get P4,000 and eventually the loan amount grows if they maintain a good paying record. To assist its borrowers, the CCT also assessed them if they can operate a business on their own but if not they are still given some help.

The CCT staffs are trained in micro finance techniques and teach borrowers discipline and accounting.

Siya said she observed that once people became successful, they stopped borrowing they have their own money to operate their businesses.

“You can’t prevent them from investing more. I think it’s the people not the company that drives success and also discipline. One of my members is engaged in upholstery.

They are really good they keep on borrowing. The more, the bigger the capital, the better,” she said. –Manila Times