Marites Yanzon is a sari-sari store owner who opened her business six years ago using the money she borrowed from a relative to augment her family’s income and finance their day-to-day needs. Marites, though, continued to struggle after her savings diminished due to health emergencies in the family.
Last year, however, she did not know that she would play a crucial role in reviving the economy amid the quarantine restrictions imposed by the government to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Her sari-sari store business flourished despite the pandemic, thanks to her loading business, which helps people cooped up in their homes stay connected with their loved ones and the rest of the world through voice and data services that telecom companies like Globe provide.
Marites is now earning as much as double from her loading business as compared to over half a decade ago. “Malaking tulong po ang loading business. Halos mas mabenta nga po ang load kaysa sa ibang paninda ko. Mas lalong lumakas ang benta ng load ngayong online class na ang mga estudyante kasi yung mga walang WiFi, sa load sila umaasa,” she said.
As the country celebrates the National Women’s Month, Globe continues to empower Marites and other women micro entrepreneurs who play a crucial role in reviving the economy through their small businesses.
“Retailers are a very important part of our value chain, they help us reach and serve the grassroots communities. This Women’s Month, we would like to thank and honor them, especially the women who keep the community stores running and in turn are helping our economy recover,” said Bernie Llamzon, Globe Executive Vice President for Channel Management.
Globe’s loading business also helped retailers who were affected by past typhoons. In January alone, Globe, through its Community Development Program, provided at least 280 retailers in provinces devastated by Super Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses with livelihood opportunities via a retailer package. The package includes an LTE phone, SIM starter kit, and initial load worth P1,000. About 80 percent of the recipients were women.