MINDA BATUA

ROROGAGUS PHASE 2, MARAWI CITY

CARENDERIA KIT RECIPIENT

Minda Batua is one of the influential businesswomen who benefited from the
Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Livelihood Assistant Kit. Beforethe Marawi
Siege, she was a businesswoman in Plaza, Banggolo, Marawi City.Her parents died
while she was in Grade 1, so she has to work hard to make it through the life that her
parents have left her.

 After that, she married and started her own business with the help of her
husband, Mr. Ilias Dimangadap.They have eight adorable children who are enrolled
in a Marawi City private school. Her and her husband Mr. Ilias' restaurant in
Banggolo became a huge support for them to be able to send their children to a
private school because of their hard work.

 She claimed in her narration that the Marawi Siege was one of the most
difficult challenges she has faced. “My children and I have been separated. My four
youngest children and I are going to Taraka, LDS, while my other older children have
been split and I have no idea where they are going,and my husband is still in Marawi
City. It was becoming increasingly difficult for me and my children to be apart from
my other children and their father, so we decided to leave and move to Iligan City. 

I’m taking the risk that maybe I can see my children and their father there. We
stayed with my other relatives in Iligan City. When I was searching for them, I came
across my husband, who was crying, and I couldn't control my emotions when I saw
him alive, so I cried with him.He told me that the two of our children had died in the
war on that day, and I was saddened. We found my other two children after a month
in Iligan City. Since they were so thin and their hair was too long, I didn't notice them
at first. They said that they have stayed in Marawi for months without food. I cried
more when I saw their bodies full of blood because of the hit of the bullets. I lost
hope. Hope that they can survive. Hope that we can survive this struggle that the
Marawi Siege causes us. I simply bring my children home and care for them. We are
unable to cover their medical expenses. Seeing my children in that state was much
more difficult for me at the time. After three days, I lost them; they were no longer
breathing. My four children died as a result of the Marawi siege. As a consequence,
I'm at a loss about what to do. We are only able to survive because of the relief
goods provided by the NGO and the local government. 

The Carenderia Starter Kit is a livelihood assistant kit provided by the

Department of Trade and Industry. "Naisip ko na may pag-asa pa kami na makaahon
sa hirap," she said. "Salamat sa tulong na natanggap namin sa DTI dahil malaki ang
naitulong nito saamin."
Furthermore, she claims that the DTI livelihood program will restore their
normalcy in their lives. She is preparing a variety of dishes, including Badak, Sari-
sari, Ginataang Gulay, and others. If the profits are sufficient, they will add more
dishes. And the livelihood assistance package they received was extremely
beneficial, since they make between 1,000 and 2,000 pesos a day. “Thank you to the
DTI TFBM for the assistance,” she adds. Our other children can now attend school in
our province, thanks to the DTI livelihood assistant package, which has saved our
family. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Sarakan, Oliki
Rorogagus Transitory Shelters, Marawi City
Sewing Machine Recipient

Mrs. Sarakan, Okili, is another successful tale of an IDP who was given the
opportunity to pursue her passion in business. She claimed to have a business in
Dagduban Marawi City, which she ran with the assistance of her husband, Mr.
Busao Sarakan. Before the Marawi Siege, she worked as a tailor, making Malong
(Landap), gowns, and everything else that her customers wanted. Her husband's
support for their company was invaluable because after she finished stitching the
order from their client, her husband sent it to each store that had put an order with
them. They became the supplier to other store in Marawi when it comes to stitching
Malong and others. Mr. Sarakan and she have eleven (11) children, all of whom
attended public school. They sell between 4000 and 5000 pesos per week in their
company. They have a wonderful life before the war breaks out and everything
changes.

“When the war started, my family and I didn't leave Marawi City because we
didn't know where to go,” she said. While our neighbors and other Barangays are
beginning to abandon their homes and businesses. My husband and I both assumed
that the war would be over in a short time. We left our home after days of hearing
bullets everywhere in Marawi, my frightened children, and my fear for them. I forgot
to bring clothing for my family as I walked across the street to get away from the war
because I was scared and afraid of what would happen if we didn't leave the home.
While we were resting in Saguiran, one of my children called out, "Ome, I'm hungry,"
and then passed out right in front of my eyes. I was weeping at the time when a man
near us offered us food and water, as well as the opportunity to stay in their home
while we looked for a place to stay.

They are unable to return to a former life in which they were capable of
standing on their own. “The Department of Trade and Industry was one of the
greatest sources of assistance we got in this life struggle,” she said. We are the first
batch to obtain the Sewing Machine from the Livelihood Assistant Kit. I bought
clothes with the money we got from other agencies to begin stitching Malong that we
can sell.” Their company started after they obtained assistance from the DTI and
began to meet the needs of their children in their daily lives. “Unti-unti na kaming
nakakabawi at nakabalik na sa pag-aaral ang mga anak ko, dahil sa malaking tulong
na ibinigay ng DTI,” she also added that, “ Ng nang dahil dito marami na akong
customer / supplier na naging rason upang maitaguyod naming mag-asawa ang
pang-araw-araw na kailangan ng pamilya naming. Maraming- maraming salamat sa
DTI TFBM.”

In the midst of the confusion and poverty in Marawi City, the families who
received assistance from the DTI TFBM shared their appreciation for assisting them
in surviving the Marawi Siege and making their lives easier with each passing day.

Dumado Gimbor Dirindingun

Sari-Sari Store
Rorogagus Transitory shelters, Marawi City

Gimbor Dumado was the son of a peasant. He felt compelled to complete his
studies in order to assist his family. Despite his sacrifices, he was able to complete a
two-year course at MSU LNCAT. After he had completed his studies, he married his
wife Hasana Diganding and settled down. They were the parents of two girls. They
also had hardware businesses on Marawi City's Dansalan Rahman Lane. Their
business grew steadily until they were able to create their own home and purchase a
vehicle. They're also buying a car for their older son. During the interview, he
became emotional as a result of what happened during the Marawi siege. They
ruined the decent life they had and ended up becoming penniless.

In his account, he said that one of the most difficult times for him during the
Marawi siege was being separated from his wife and children. Although he was in
Marawi City, his family remained in Bur-on Fisheries, Iligan City. During that time, he
expected the fire fights to end after two days because he wanted to return to their
house and his hardware as soon as possible because he was unable to raise
enough money to ensure his family's survival. Unfortunately, the situation worsened,
and he was forced to stay in the city for a few more days. His wife called him one
day because their youngest son was behaving strangely; he only dried his tears and
pondered if he should return to their home or to his family. He was shocked for a few
hours before he heard a massive explosion and realized they were one of the
houses that had burned down. He then decided to only go to Iligan City to see his
family without carrying anything.

When he saw his family at the small gymnasium in Bur-on, he was saddened
and worried about his wife, who had experienced emotional trauma, and his son,
who had become ill. They used to suit it with wood around them because of the large
crowd. After a month, his brother-in-law calls him and asks if he wants to stay in the
Rorogagus phase 2 shelter, but he can't because of religious teachings about
tabligh. The Dumado family was then dislocated at Rorogagus. When he discovered
that the Department of Trade and Industry was providing a livelihood assistance
package, he leapt at the chance. He received a call from DTI after a month. When he
received the sari sari package, he felt relieved and realized he had a better chance
in life. He then plans to open a business shop.

Mr. Dumado expressed his gratitude for the sari sari kit he receives from DTI
TFBM. He is now inspired and eager to start something new and earn money. At the
very least, extend the sari sari kit that you got after you made some money. His store
had expanded and improved by this time. They were good in selling salt bread and
vegetables. Their lives have become more fitting as a result of DTI. Their children
were now able to resume their education. His mom, for the most part, healed.
 Thus, Mr. Dumado Gimbor expressed his gratefulness to the whole DTI team
and to Undersecretary Abdulganie Macatoman for the kit he received. In his
interview, he said, “Dahil sa tulong ng DTI nakapag tayo ako ng maliit na tindahan
maraming salamat po sa walang sawang pag tulong saamin mga IDPs."

Moomina Diama
Daguduban, Marawi City
Sari-Sari Kit Recipient

Moomina Diama is a single mother of six children and one of the IDPs in
Marawi City who lives in Dagduban. She previously ran a small sari-sari shop, which
helped her meet the needs of her children on a daily basis. When the money she
receives from her sari-sari shop is insufficient, she borrows a hand-washing machine
from a neighbor to meet their daily needs. In this way, she finds herself to have
taught her children well.

When the Marawi Siege occurs, they must abandon their homes and
evacuate to Sagunsungan because they will be unable to return home. It was difficult
for them to go on with their lives in the absence of a source of income and help, but
they eventually learned to go with the flow and endure each day in the expectation
that things will improve one day. They are thankful that, despite the challenges,
assistance is available from all departments and levels of government. Following the
Marawi Siege, the Pandemic COVID 19 stranded us in our homes. We aspire to
exist again, just as we did before. I lost much of my job as a result of the lockdown,
and we now depend solely on government assistance (Relief Goods). Due to a
shortage of funds, we are unable to purchase foods to satisfy my children's hunger.

"We are grateful to the Department of Trade and Industry for continuing to
work, amid the lockdown, to provide livelihood kits to those who are in need as a
result of this crisis." To those of us who do not have enough money to meet our
basic needs, the government's assistance, especially the DTI TFBM livelihood
package, has been invaluable to my children.

“Thank you very much to the DTI staff for doing their best, even in difficult
times, and for continuing to work. Saludo kami sa inyo mga taga Department of
Trade and Industry,” she said.

Abbas Samia
Rorgagus, Phase 2 , Marawi City
Sari Sari Kit Recipient

Samia Abbas, a mother of four who used to live in Samira Marawi district, has
been granted the status of Internally Displaced Person (IDP). Mrs. Abbas is a single
mother who has been raising her children alone since her husband died several
years ago. They just made it by selling 'Banana Cue' and 'Soman' on a regular basis.
After that, the disaster strikes Marawi City, resulting in the "Marawi Siege." Despite
the disaster they were facing at the time, she had no idea how long they would
survive the evacuation in Raya Gimba. She doesn't get enough sleep, and she's
worried about what the future holds for them. Finally, the DTI takes place. "It was
truly grateful and overwhelming," she said, "because the government never forgets
those who are in need, especially the DTI who lent a helping hand in this matter."

Samia also claimed that it is extremely difficult for them to get through their
everyday lives because, as a vendor, you cannot easily live an ordinary life, you do
not get enough sleep, and you must work 24 hours a day to advance, such as selling
'Banggala and Apang.' But she was grateful to DTI for the assistance they provided
her because she is a single parent who must support and feed her children.

Previously, she couldn't have enough to fulfill their needs, but with the aid of
DTI, things are slowly improving for them.

According to her "Ang masasabi ko sa kapwa ko maranao, para makabawi rin

sa buhay, ang binibigay ng DTI sa kanila o ano mang tulong galing sa gobyerno ay
huwag nila ibenta sa halip pakinabangan ito at gawing pangkabuhayan upang
lumago ito at pandag-dag rin kita sa pang araw-araw na kailangan."

Samia Abbas and her family have several reasons to be grateful for the
grocery kit issued by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Samia now owns a sari-sari shop and can now pay for her children's school
needs. Sami also had plans to expand her shop by combining some items and
school supplies. Sami's store generates about 2000 dollars a month.