Inspired by the capital assistance her association received from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR), Criselda Custodio, 40 years old from Pasig City vows during yesterday’s flag raising ceremony of DSWD-NCR officials and staff, that her family will use the fund as a stepping stone in getting out of poverty.

“Ipinapangako ko pong ang puhunang ipinahiram na ito ng DSWD sa amin ay magsisilbing daan upang makaalis kame sa kahirapan… sobra-sobra ang aming pasasalamat sa pagkakataong makapag negosyo na inyong ibinigay sa amin,” Criselda said in front of DSWD-NCR family led by Regional Director Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan.

Together with her husband Daniel Custodio, 54 years old and a security guard, Criselda shared that it is hard for them to provide the needs of their five (5) children aged 22, 19, 14, 11 and 6 if they will depend only on her husband’s salary.

That is why Criselda decided to apply for a job as encoder and she was fortunately considered. However, she observed that her youngest child became sickly since she started working; thus, after four (4) years of working as encoder, she decided to resign and be a plain housewife instead.

Criselda considered it as God’s blessing that she just resigned from her previous work effective this January 2015, then there came a capital assistance for her sari-sari store which could enable her to earn income while attending to the needs of her children at home.

“Malaki po ang naitulong ng DSWD sa aking pamilya… bilang benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya, wala na pong absence ang mga anak ko sa eskwelahan dahil may pantustos na kame… tumaas din po ang aking self-confidence mula ng mahalal ako ng aming grupo bilang Parent Leader,” she added.

Custodio family is among the 235, 297 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Metro Manila who are receiving cash grants for the health and education of the children aged 0-18 wherein, the amount depends on compliance to the program conditionalities. ### (DSWD-NCR, Social Marketing Office, January 13, 2015)

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