El Nido, Palawan, a well-known tourist destination in the Philippines had critically suffered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its residents depend on its livelihood from the tourism industry especially the micro-enterprises and small vendors.
Before the pandemic struck early in 2020, 48-year-old Nena Somido, ran her mini ‘balut’ stall along the roads of El Nido town proper, where numerous tourists flock at night. Her husband, Paciano, complements her by selling roasted and boiled peanuts to customers. With an average net income of Php700.00 per night, they were able to provide sufficiently the needs of their family including the schooling of their two children.
When the community quarantine restrictions were implemented, they were forced to shut down their micro-enterprise resulting in massive losses. Paciano’s savings had been depleted and used for daily needs. For several months, they had no source of income and solely relied on relief aids such as bags of rice and canned goods from the local government unit. Nena then would access loans to survive the needs of their household. She even cried for financial assistance from the government. Luckily, they received the social amelioration grant from the government which helped them survive the effects of the crisis.
As the quarantine restrictions started to ease in 2021, Nena’s household was among the recipients of Php10,000.00 livelihood assistance from the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Together with her husband, they decided to revive their balut stall in the town proper. Paciano would sell balut to nearby barangays which yielded to increase in sales. Nena remains to manage her stall as she waits for her patrons at night. In no less than six months, Nena’s balut became popular with local customers despite the low number of tourists in El Nido.
“Maayos naman po ang pagbebenta ng balut namin ditto kahit puyat kami lagi. Salamat po sa tulong kapital na binigay ng DSWD. Kahit wala pang mga turista, kailangan namin magtinda.”, Nena gratefully shares.
In 2022, Nena and Paciano acquired two (2) balut carts apiece. Their children, Jomar and John Paul helped them after school. The family’s income significantly increased and were able to sustain the schooling of their children.
Shortly, El Nido fully re-opened to tourists and gradually regained its lively economic activities. Nena thought of putting up another cart in front of the town’s transport terminal in Brgy. Corong-Corong and in front of a resto bar in Brgy. Masagana.
In 2023, Nena’s family had four balut outlets in town with boiled quail eggs and peanuts. Each stall is operated by the members of the family.
Nena’s family is grateful for the livelihood assistance grant of the DSWD SLP which allowed them to survive during the most challenging chapter of their life.
“Akala ko talaga hindi na kami makakabawi dahil sa hirap noong pandemic. Buti na lang nakapasok kami sa livelihood program. Malaking tulong po sa pang-araw-araw at pagpapa-aral ng mga anak namin.” – Nena Somido
Written by Francis Ruizo (DSWD-SLP Palawan Project Development Officer II), 3rd Place in the Sibol Story: SLP Feature Writing Contest
