More Kapampangans benefit from ABE-K livelihood project

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO --- More than 2,000 housewives and heads of families, all members of Aku ing Bayung Entreprenyur-Kapampangan (ABE-K) associations, in various towns of Pampanga have benefited from the livelihood project of the provincial government.
Mamerto Gatus, head of the Pampanga Cooperative and Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCEDO) and lead implementer of the project, reported that as of October 5, the province has released more than P10 million loan assistance to 83 ABE-K associations in the province.
Pampanga Governor Eddie T. Panlilio launched the said flagship project in December 2007 to fight poverty and provide livelihood opportunities to needy constituents in the province.
Panlilio created the Provincial Livelihood Committee (PLC) composed of concerned departments of the provincial government to oversee the implementation of the project.
Gatus said that each ABE-K association received loans ranging from P50,000 to P150,000 from the provincial government to finance their small scale income generating projects.
These projects include direct selling, sari-sari store, fruit and atchara vending, repacking, silver works, ready-to-wear, electronics and bicycle parts, catering, e-load and fishball selling.
According to Gatus, the 12 ABE-K associations in barangays Solib, Gutad, Benedicto, Sto. Rosario , Bodega, San Isidro , San Jose , San Pedro, San Nicolas and Poblacion in Floridablanca town received P1,180,000 million loan assistance while three associations in Masantol were granted P355,000.
Eight associations in barangays San Agustin, San Roque, San Joaquin , Sto. Rosario and Sta. Maria in the municipality of Sta.Ana received P1,175,000 loan assistance as the Masaya association in the City of San Fernando got P70,000.
Meanwhile, one ABE-K group in Sasmuan received P140,000; four groups in Magalang, P545,000; one in Sto, Tomas, P150,000; eight in Sta.Rita, P1,085,000; seven in Porac, P1,050,000; and seven in Mabalacat, P1,025,000.
Other project beneficiaries include the Ritanians, Forward San Esteban, IMA, Maganaka, Apung Maria, Kapuso and St. Isidore Labrador associations in Macabebe; the St. Nichols, Kabalen, Divisoria, Sapang Maisac and Pamisaupan in Mexico; Cansinala, Everlasting and Sampaloc in Apalit; St. John, Ascomian, Lambac, JAS, San Antonio and Maquiapo in Guagua; Marians in Sta.Maria, Minalin; Masikap, San Isidro Labrador, in San Simon; Lucian and Rosarian in San Luis; Monicanians in Lubao; Gulap and Lanang in Candaba.
Gatus said that members of these associations underwent a two-day business planning and values enhancement seminar to better prepare them in managing their business as well as instil in them the values of loan repayment.
These preparatory activities eventually paid off as gauged from the more than 100 percent loan repayment of the program beneficiaries, Gatus said.
He added that after the seminar and assessment each qualified member received P5,000 soft loan, payable in 50 weeks without interest.
Every week, the loan borrower pays P160 to the association’s treasurer broken down as follows: P100 for loan repayment, P50 for savings and P10 for the operating expenses. Thus, at the end of the 50 weeks, the member has saved for himself P2,500.
At present, PCEDO is in the process of assessing other potential beneficiaries who want to avail themselves of the said livelihood project which has definitely helped in uplifting the lives of the target sectors, Gatus ended. (Pampanga PIO)