Aspiring better income, more opportunities and upward mobility, Rico Caringal was working as a cruise ship waiter for 14 years.
Unfortunately, he was one of over 300,000 Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were repatriated since the start of the pandemic.
“February 17 sumampa ako sa barko… by March terminated na ang contract ko dahil sa COVID-19,” recalled Rico, who added that he and his co-workers were quarantined in the ship for three months and were only able to go back to the country in June.
“Isip ako ng isip kung paano ko isasalba ang mga bayarin ko,” shared Rico, who is raising three teenagers with his stay-at-home wife in San Jose, Nueva Ecija. “Iniisip ko kung ano ba ang pwede kong pagkakitaan. Hindi ko ito napaghandaan, akala ko ay tuloy-tuloy lang ang sweldo.”
NEW OPPORTUNITY IN AGRI
With his courage and resolve, Rico, who back then, worked as a barber, a promodiser, a delivery boy and a magician, ventured into agribusiness, specifically mushroom production.
Rico admitted he had no prior training about mushroom but said that he was encouraged and later on mentored by other mushroom producer-friends to embark on said business.
“Napaka-daming mushroom farmers dito sa San Jose at maganda daw ang market dito,” said Rico. “Pwede ko ibenta sa bahay-bahay, pwede rin thru online.”
TIMELY FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH ANYO
“Very timely yung pagkakataon na dumating sa akin na mag-negosyo kasi may gobyernong magpapautang. Parang nagkaroon ng confirmation kaya nag-venture na ako sa mushroom,” narrated Rico.
According to Rico, he heard about the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s (DA-ACPC) AgriNegosyo or ANYO through his wife.
“Hindi ko pinansin nung una dahil wala akong interes sa loan. Pero habang tumatagal, nagkakaroon ako ng interes lalo nung nalaman ko na yung isa kong kaibigan nag apply din sa DA-ACPC,” said Rico.
“August nung nag apply ako. Nagkaroon ako ng series of webinars ng DA-ACPC. Na-release ang loan noong October 22,” he recalled.
“Zero interest, excellent!” exclaimed Rico. “Napakaganda ng pagtulong ng gobyerno na pagpapautang na walang interes. Salamat sa DA-ACPC dahil nakahiram ako ng kapital sa panahon na kailangan ko.”
Rico’s small mushroom production activity is now thriving amid the pandemic. He describes himself as a hands-on farmer and he was able to hire one laborer help him get the job done in the farm. More importantly, he is able to spend more time with his family while being able to provide for their needs and more.
“Pinag-aaralan ko kung paano palalakihin ang negosyo. Kapag nagging successful ito, plano ko rin na magtinda ng fruiting bags,” shared Rico, who added that he keeps on studying mushroom production techniques to enhance his skills and knowledge.
To other repatriated OFWs like him, the seafarer-turned-agripreneur offered advice based on his personal experience. “Huwag mawawalan ng pag-asa. Buksan nila ang isip nila sa agribusiness. May gobyerno naman na tumutulong,” he said. ### (DA-ACPC)
