For Arlyn Analiza Oquendo from Pandi, Bulacan, going from a novice seamstress to becoming a certified dressmaking trainer and assessor is not just threaded by her grit, positive outlook, and will to change her life.

It is also interwoven by the support she got from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) poverty-alleviation programs and the agency’s key partners.

Epitomizing the drastic changes in her life, Arlyn recalled how her household’s life was far from comfortable prior to becoming a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

While her husband would work all sorts of jobs, she was a seamstress and a full-time mother to four children. Despite the small earnings, they did not falter in their daily grind, hoping that they would at least put some food on the table.

Sometimes, her family would even chuckle in amusement while recalling how they would share over a single fried egg back in the day.

“Ngayon, lagi na lang namin yon nagiging katatawanan na. Yung pag may mga kwentuhan namin ng mga bata eh… kami nga eh isang itlog nga eh, kailangan flat na flat yung itlog na isa. Tapos yung isang buong itlog na yun ipi-pizza namin sa anim,” Arlyn shared during an interview for the DSWD’s Mga Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago (#KPAP), the Strategic Communications group’s online documentary.

Life took a turn for the better when Arlyn became part of the 4Ps program. The support provided crucial financial assistance that helped her family cover basic needs and the education of her children.

Shortly after, she also qualified for the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). As the leading livelihood program of the DSWD, the SLP offers two tracks: the Micro-Enterprise Development (MD) and the Employment Facilitation (EF).

The MD track focuses on the establishment of microenterprise through the provision of financial capital, enhancement of skills, as well as the building and re-building of physical and natural assets. The EF, on the other hand, track provides assistance to qualified members of poor households who preferred employment rather than engaging in microenterprise.

With the determination to improve her situation, Arlyn opted for the Employment Track under the SLP, where she further developed her skills in tailoring.

“Meron pong mga training na in-offer ang SLP. Bibigyan ka ng financial support, parang puhunan para mag-negosyo ako. And yung isa nga po yung dress making. Bali mas pinili ko po yung skills training. Nanahi ako, nagte-training pag-uwi ko saka po ako mananahi,” Arlyn shared.

From there, Arlyn was enrolled in a dress making class from ATEC. This technological vocational institution is one of the long-standing partners of the SLP in bringing training and pre-employment assistance to beneficiaries dubbed “Association of Skills Livelihood Providers.”

Welcoming these developments with hard work, Arlyn received certifications, graduated from ATEC and explored a vast horizon of opportunities that was once deemed impossible for her.

Recognizing Arlyn’s grit and talent, her trainer offered an opportunity to become a trainor. Despite the big change, Arlyn accepted the call, driven by the desire to strive for a better life.

“Nakitaan po ako ng potential nung aming trainer. So, in-introduce po ako dito sa ATEC. In-introduce po ako na potential akong trainer. Nagpursigi talaga ako na blessing naman. Sinamantala ko na yung pagkakataon,” Arlyn said, going over the course of decisions that led to her success.

Now, Arlyn’s earnings have significantly increased, averaging Php1,200 pesos a day compared to the Php300 to Php600 pesos she once made. This financial stability has transformed her family’s quality of life.

As a trainer, Arlyn also now teaches fellow 4Ps beneficiaries. Amid these turn of events, she said she is committed to sharing her knowledge with others, empowering people like her to rise above their circumstances.

”Ako po, nung nagkaroon ako ng opportunity na makapagturo, gusto ko pong ibalik sa mga kapwa kong 4Ps. Kasi yung mga tinuturuan ko mga 4Ps, gusto ko makita po ng mga kasamahan ko na kung ano po yung narating ko mas higit pa po nilang mararating yon,” Arlyn said hoping to pass down her skills to her trainees.

Reflecting on her journey, Arlyn expressed gratitude for the support and opportunities she received, emphasizing that the convergence of DSWD and ATEC never ceased in giving her the necessary support and the tools to succeed.

“Kung hindi po ba dahil sa SLP, magkakaroon po ba ako ng makina? Napaka-grateful ko po sa SLP habang buhay po akong magpapasalamat sa DSWD at SLP,” Arlyn professed, grateful beyond words for the changes that transpired in her life.

The SLP is a capacity-building program of the DSWD for the identified poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households and communities aimed at providing viable interventions and support to improve the participants’ socio-economic conditions by accessing and acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods.

Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by Republic Act No. 11310 in 2019, the 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their children’s health, nutrition, and education.

Each household beneficiary receives Php750 per month for health; Php300 per child in elementary, Php500 per child in junior high school, and Php700 per child in senior high school for education, with a maximum of three children per household for 10 months in a school year; and a monthly rice subsidy of Php600 for active and compliant households.

The #KPAP is hosted by Traditional Media Service (TMS) Director Aldrine Fermin and posted every Tuesday on the DSWD’s official Facebook page. (LSJ)