Guinobatan: At least 504 business owners in Albay are in the process of rebuilding their enterprises following financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) through the Sustainable Livelihood Program. In a report released Wednesday, DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio revealed that over PHP10 million in livelihood assistance was distributed to small business owners in Guinobatan, Albay, during a payout earlier this week.

According to Philippines News Agency, the grantees from 39 barangays received a PHP20,000 livelihood settlement grant. This financial support is aimed at helping them rebuild or establish microenterprises after suffering significant losses due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in 2024. The storm had a profound impact on various small businesses in the area, including sari-sari stores, handicraft production, food vending, hog raising, rice retailing, and printing shops.

Anabelle Aris, a resident of Barangay Mapaco in Guinobatan town, who crafts abaca products, expressed her gratitude for the aid. "Thank you for the capital. I appreciate the help from DSWD; I can now restock my materials with just one purchase," Aris said in Filipino. She recounted how the storm caused abaca fiber prices to rise sharply, and with limited capital available, she was unable to operate her business for several months.