Aling Nila Serrano has been operating her carinderia (food stall) for 13 years.  She used to welcome an average of 100 customers daily, but since the coronavirus outbreak, the number of visitors dwindled to 25 to 30.

“Noon, mga 10 a.m. pa lang, ubos na ang aming paninda. Dahil sa pandemya, humina ang benta namin dahil wala nang masyadong bumibili. Wala na yung mga suki ko,” she said.

Aling Nila is one of ten food stall owners in Payatas, Fairview, and Commonwealth in Quezon City chosen to become beneficiaries of Project Karinderya initiated by the Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative or K-Coop, which aims to bring safe and nutritious food to 200 affected households while helping carinderias recover from the slack in business.

Family beneficiaries received vouchers that can be exchanged for food in carinderias. This arrangement generated an almost 50% increase in income for the food stall owners. The proceeds even helped Aling Nila set-up a “mamihan” (noodle house) to attract new customers.

Maria Anna De Rosas-Ignacio, manager of K-Coop, said that the project, which started in Bagong Silang, Caloocan, has been replicated in six other areas in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; Dasmarinas, Cavite; and Rodriguez, Rizal.  A total of 1,600 families or around 8,000 individuals have been assisted.

For owners like Aling Nila, the project has given hope as they deal with the crisis.

“Malaki ang aking pasasalamat sa K-Coop at sa iba pang mga organisasyong tumulong sa amin dito sa Payatas,” Aling Nila concluded.

K-Coop pursued this very timely venture in partnership with the Peace and Equity Foundation, Philippines Business for Social Progress, and the Jollibee Group Foundation.

Photo by: Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative or K-Coop