The newly-opened Humalik Beach Resort features air-conditioned rooms and a function hall, and offers tent rentals and island tour packages to guests.

JOMALIG, QUEZON PROVINCE — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), has provided capital assistance worth P2.55 million to a livelihood association in this island municipality for the construction of a community-owned beach resort.

DSWD-Field Office (FO) CALABARZON (IV-A) facilitated the assistance given to Humalik Beach Resort SLP Association, which is composed of 255 residents from Barangays Apad and Bukal; 181 of whom are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a human development program implemented by the Department that invests in the health and education of poor families.

The association used the capital in the construction and initial operation of the newly-opened Humalik Beach Resort located at Barangay Apad. All of its 255 members are now co-owners of the resort.

As co-owners, the members will have the opportunity to earn monthly dividends from the income generated from the establishment. Apart from the dividends, they will also have a chance to earn extra by providing services, including tour guiding and sand massaging, as well as by selling their produce, such as the fruits and vegetables they harvested, to visitors.

The establishment, which has recently opened to the public, features air-conditioned rooms and a function hall, and offers tent rentals and island tours to guests, among others.

The concept of community enterprise

Rhuel Rodriguez, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary and the president of the SLP association, shared that the concept of a beach resort as a community business arose because of the emerging tourism in their island municipality.

“Unti-unti nang nakikilala ang Jomalig dahil sa ganda ng mga beaches na hindi pa naaabot ng komersyalismo. Kaya naisip namin na resort ang gawing negosyo na popondahan sa ilalim ng SLP (Jomalig is slowly becoming famous because of its unspoiled beaches. This is why we thought it best to establish a resort as a livelihood project under the SLP),” shared Rodriguez.

Jason Coronacion, the Project Development Officer of FO IV-A assigned in the municipality, said that since the locality has tourism potential based on their initial study, the beach resort project was immediately supported and funded by the field office.

All the beneficiaries underwent orientation and training on basic micro-enterprise development, which helped them in the conceptualization, construction, and implementation of the resort project.

As part of the agreement of the association, all members will receive a dividend from the 20 percent of the total earnings of the resort. The remaining 80 percent will be used for the improvement and expansion of the establishment.

“Bukas din ang resort na bumili ng mga produkto katulad ng mga isda at gulay mula sa mga miyembro kapag nag-umpisa na ang catering dito (The resort is open to buy products, such as fishes and vegetables, from our very own members when the catering operations of the establishment starts),” Rodriguez continued.

During the construction of the resort, those who were hired for the daily labor were members of the association. Now that the establishment has officially opened, the manpower requirement for the management of the facilities will come from the association as well.

Cerlina Hidalgo, 38, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary and an association member, sees the future guests of the resort as customers for her small ‘kakanin’ business.

Improved lives through SLP

During the resort’s opening, Milantie Aceveda, the Regional Program Coordinator of the SLP in the CALABARZON Region, encouraged the SLP beneficiaries to work together to ensure the success of the business. He added that the DSWD will continuously collaborate with the local government of Jomalig and will partner with different organizations to further assist the association.

Merlie Del Castillo, tourism officer of Jomalig, said that the Humalik Beach Resort is a welcome addition to the growing tourism industry of the island. She committed to help in the promotion of the resort to the tourists.

Rodriguez shared that the association eyes to expand the resort as it starts to operate and earn.

“Naniniwala ako na magiging matagumpay ito lalo na kung lahat kami ay magtutulungan at magkakaisa para sa aming proyekto (I believe that this project will succeed if all of us work hand-in-hand),” she said.

Meanwhile, Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo recognized the efforts of poor communities to organize themselves and strive together to alleviate their lives from poverty.

“Like what I always say, a united and organized community can reach its goal of success,” Sec. Taguiwalo said.

“While we see many communities succeeding, our goal in the DSWD is to reach as many poor communities as possible and to extend our programs and services to millions of indigent Filipinos not covered by 4Ps. We are doing everything that we can to help improve the lives of those in need,” the welfare chief added.

Located in the eastern part of Quezon Province, Jomalig is the farthest and smallest island municipality in region. While the place is not easy to reach, it is fast gaining popularity among local tourists because of its golden sand beaches and pristine waters.

A community-driven enterprise development program of the DSWD, SLP aims to improve the economic opportunities of program participants through capacity-building, including micro-enterprise development and employment facilitation. #