Enterprising Makati residents put up businesses using P5,000 aid from city gov’t

MANILA, Philippines — Some Makati residents who received P5,000 in cash assistance from the city government have used the money to put up their own businesses, according to Mayor Abby Binay.

“Several recipients of our cash aid have shared inspiring stories on how they were able to use it to start a small business, with the goal of making it a stable means of livelihood to support their families for the long term,” Binay said in a statement.

One of the first batch of beneficiaries, Joeffrey Furo of Barangay Rizal, used the money as capital for his e-loading business, a “sari-sari” store and computer repair shop.

With a wife and a child to support, Furo said the financial assistance from the city was very timely, especially for a person with disability like him. He lost one of his legs in a hit-and-run accident.

Another resident, Agnes Bungay of Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo, was also able to put up a sari-sari store.

As of May 30, the city government has released more than P1 billion in just two weeks since it rolled out the P2.7-billion Makatizen Economic Relief Program.

A total of P1,035,810,000 has been distributed to 207,162 beneficiaries, each of whom received P5,000 through the GCash app, according to Binay.