Woman from Makati sewer gets P80K from DSWD to start ‘sari-sari’ store

Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The woman who emerged from a sewer in Makati City early this week will be given PHP80,000 in livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help her start a “sari-sari” store.

This was assured by Secretary Rex Gatchalian when he met with “Rose” at the DSWD’s Pag-abot Center in Pasay City on Thursday to check on her condition after the incident went viral and to let her know that the government is ready to assist her.

This is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to help Rose and other families and individuals in street situations (FISS) or those living on the streets.

“Ang magiging intervention natin kay Rose, pangarap daw niya kasing magkaroon ng tindahan at sa assessment ng ating social worker ay kaya naman niya (This will be our intervention for Rose as it has been her dream to own a store, and our social worker has assessed that she can manage it),” Gatchalian told reporters who covered the DSWD chief’s meeting with Rose.

Rose, who collects and sells recyclable garbage for a living, told Gatchalian the real story behind her photos.

She said she went into the sewer after a small blade cutter she uses for her daily collection fell into the drain. Viral photos showed snippets of her after securing the item.

Gatchalian said the DSWD would also look into how Rose’s partner, “Jerome,” a baker, can be assisted.

The couple lived on a street along Pasong Tamo in Makati City for a year but persevered to earn and rent a space where they could stay.

“Si Jerome, ang kanyang partner, ay dadalhin din niya sa atin baka matulungan sa training dahil marunong mag-welding. So, baka matulungan sa pagbili ng welding machine para yung kita nilang dalawa mas maging stable (She will bring Jerome to us for training as he reportedly knows how to weld. Maybe we can help him buy a welding machine so that their income would become more stable),” Gatchalian said.

He said Rose has committed to help in the program by going with the Pag-abot team during reach-out operations to convince other families and individuals living on the streets to visit the center and be given appropriate interventions.

“Tutulong si Rose. Yung mga nakakasalamuha niya na kagaya niya ng sitwasyon, tutulungan niya kami na kumbinsihin sila na sumama dito sa Pag-Abot shelter para mabigyan ng tulong (Rose will help. She will help us convince other people she knows who are in a similar situation to reach out to the Pag-abot shelter so we can also help them),” Gatchalian said.

The Pag-abot Center has been in operation since 2023, catering to FISS by providing them with temporary shelter before they are returned to their respective hometowns where they can start anew through various interventions under the Pag-abot Program.