The COVID-19 pandemic indeed affected lives and various establishments, such as small businesses managed by local business owners. It has been a challenge for everyone to keep their businesses fully operational since restrictions such as enhanced community quarantine and total lockdown were implemented for a long period of time.
Despite the challenges brought by this pandemic, Mr. Pantaleon Prado Jr., the owner of Prado’s Bakery located in Brgy. Zone II Luisiana, Laguna, kept his bakery operational since his family had no other source of income. He stated, “Wala kaming ibang pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan kundi itong bakery, minsan ay nagtatanim-tanim ako ng halaman tulad ng ampalaya at kalabasa pansarili. Mahirap noong mahigpit pa dahil mahina ang benta at kaunting tao lang ang lumalabas“.
In 2021, Prado was one of the chosen beneficiaries of the Livelihood Seeding Program—Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay program of the Department of Trade and Industry. This program aims to support and aid micro, small, and medium enterprises that have been affected by the pandemic through livelihood kits. Prado received the baking ingredients necessary for bread making. He said, “Malaking tulong yung natanggap ko dahil nagkaroon ng dagdag na kita ang aking negosyo, mabilis rin naman agad nabenta ang mga nagawa kong tinapay.” Thereafter, he showed gratitude toward DTI’s program and promised to nurture the business with the livelihood kit he received.
Currently, Prado has one employee who helps him with bread making and, together with his wife, helps him sell the bread when he’s not around. He shared that the main challenge now is the cost of baking ingredients such as sugar (Php3,000.00 per sack) and flour (Php1,000.00 per sack), but he never lost his motivation to continue his business. Instead, Prado manages to maintain his business by keeping his main buyers and continuing his daily bread production, including pandesal, tasty, and other types of bread. According to Prado, no matter how challenging life can be, there will always be solutions. This story proves that a successful outcome is achieved through hard work and perseverance. ♦
Date of Release: 8 September 2022