Gerald Briones happily doing his job at San Juan Magarao, Camarines Sur Highway.

Nowadays, every one of us is aiming for a progressive life by looking for a stable job that will sustain our daily needs. The recurring routine of life that makes us greet the dawn with a renewed hope and eagerness, prepare for another onslaught of problems at work and ends the day back to the reason of continuous fight for survival, to earn and assume all responsibilities.

Tirelessly, performing the task not minding the difficulties rather looking forward to the meager compensation that will help sustain and augment the bumpy financial battles of the days ahead. The moment that we are given an opportunity to work, we become eager to prove ourselves and value time for opportunity knocks once in a while and we should make our very best and learn on how to treasure it.

Gerald B. Briones, 35 years old, a native of Naga City and currently residing at San Juan Magarao, Camarines Sur. He was married to Myra Briones, 35, an active Pantawid Parent Leader of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program at Barangay San Juan, Magarao Camarines Sur. They are blessed with five children and living in the said barangay. Their eldest, Mary Jane, is a fourth-year college taking up Information Technology and at the same time a working student at the University of Nueva Caceres. Their second and third children are both Grade 11 of Camarines Sur National High School while the fourth and fifth are second-year high school and Grade two respectively.

Their family was a recipient of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program for five years. Two of his children are beneficiaries of the said program. The couple wanted the best for his family and a good example to their children.

Through DSWD-SLP, the program supported Gerald for his completion of documentary requirements for the “Trabahong Lansangan Project”. The project is one of DSWD’s means of accessing beneficiaries of 4p’s to gainful employment in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Sobra akong nagpapasalamat na binigyan akong ng oportunidad na maging parte ng proyekto“. (I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to be part of the Project”), said Gerald.

The family also have a Sari-sari Store managed by his wife while doing household chores to augment their income but unfortunately, the store was closed this year due to loss of income because they prioritized the schooling of their children.

Previously, Gerald works as a plumber at Naga Water District but unfortunately, he was not renewed for the succeeding year and he became unemployed for 5 months.

To his surprised during the conduct of FDS of 4ps beneficiaries attended by his wife, an opportunity came to his family.

“Iniisip ko ang pamilya ko noon, nag-aaral pa lahat ng aking mga anak, buti nalang nasabi nila sa Family Development Session na inatendan ng asawa ko about Trabahong Lansangan. So I grabbed the opportunity, hindi ko pinalampas. Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip. sinabi ko na gusto ko makisali para sa pamilya ko at sa mga anak ko ayaw ko kasing mawalan ng trabaho”, (I was thinking of my family back then, all my children were studying, fortunately, during the family development session attended by my wife, trabahong lansangan was tackled. So I grabbed the opportunity and didn’t have second thoughts. I expressed my desire to join because I don’t want to be unemployed), Gerald shared.

As he recalls, Briones learned different works in the roads, he learned to mingle with other people and helped them through “Oplan SUMVAC” (Summer Vacation) for the summer months and Holy Week. He helped visitors entering the Province of Camarines Sur.  He was also active in different activities conducted by DPWH like tree planting, booth construction, and road maintenance.

Due to his hard work, persistence, and self-discipline, he was absorbed by the DPWH District 2 of Camarines Sur as a maintenance laborer subject for renewal every six (6) months. He was able to receive about 8,400 monthly salaries. Through this venture, Gerald can now sustain the needs of their children with the help of the grants given by the Pantawid Pamilya Program to the education of their children.

At the moment, the family has an on-going construction of their dream house through their small savings because they are living with their in laws.

Gerald also shared that through the project, he learned the importance of self-discipline, gained knowledge, enhanced his skills and realized the value of time, and learning’s to every opportunity would come to his journey.

Along with Pantawid Pamilya, the Sustainable Livelihood Program is a part of the convergence strategy for poverty reduction of DSWD that helps its participants who have guaranteed employers that need financial assistance to obtain the necessary pre-requisite requirements for the job through Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) under Employment Facilitation Track of the program.

Now, Gerald B. Briones able to prove that of all these undertakings in his family, each day is an opportunity with renewed strength and courage to fight and set a new dream through the help of National Government Programs that alleviates every Filipino family to poverty.#MPDOrramos #NPOJFS051718