Philippine Self-Help Foundation
Featured Project for the Month of March 2024
From Left to Right - Alejandro Pelandas, Emidor Villasan, Rodulfo Patulin, Celso Torcende, Roberto Taer, Dexter Albores and Leonard Garcia
The "Humay-humay drivers" received a loan to renew their tricycle permits and franchises.
On the 21st of February, I (Analyn) and Phadelyn (our field worker), together with our visitors, Matteo and Shannon took a bus going to Ubay, a town in the northeast of Bohol island. It was to be a two-day visit; on the first day we conducted an orientation for 13 new applicants and on the second day we visited existing projects.
Among the new applicants were seven local tricycle drivers who had come to apply for a loan to enable them to renew their tricycle permits and franchises. Tricycles are the most common form of transportation for people to go to and from barangays to the nearest towns. The seven drivers have named their group, “The Humay-humay Drivers”.
The oldest member of the group is Alejandro Pelandas (63) - a tricycle driver for 25 years. He and his wife Laura (55) have five grown-up children. The two eldest are married whilst the others are still in school; Grace (21) is a fourth year college student taking up a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Adrian (18) is in 12th grade and Andrew (16) is in 10th grade. Alejandro had set aside funds to pay for the renewal of his tricycle permit and franchise but regrettably, that fund was used up when Laura was hospitalised in early January due to heavy menstrual bleeding, chills, headaches and loss of strength. It turned out that Laura was suffering symptoms of menopause.
Another group member, Roberto Taer (60), has been a tricycle driver for three years. He used to work as a security guard in Manila but came back home when the pandemic in 2020 broke out. In early 2021, Roberto bought a motorcycle on a two-year instalment plan and had a side car attached to it. Roberto and his wife Lucila (62) have four grown-up children, three of whom are married. The youngest, Rachel (23) and her four month old son Rex are living at home with the couple. The father of baby Rex ran away from his responsibility right after knowing that Rachel was pregnant. When she gave birth in December, Roberto’s savings were used up to help his daughter Rachel with her hospital bills because she did not have health insurance.
The other 5 members of the group, namely Celso Torcende (54), Leonard Garcia (37), Dexter Albores (48), Emidor Villasan (45), Rodulfo Patulin (40) all had stories to tell as to why they had joined the group loan. Each of them had incurred medical or children’s schooling expenses and were worried about the fast approaching deadline for their permits and franchises to be renewed.
The Humay-humay drivers make an average net income of 400 pesos ($7) a day from the transporting of passengers to and from the barangay. Each of them is the main breadwinner for their families. We are happy to help them with their livelihood and wish them safety in their travels.
Analyn T. Gallibot
PSHF Bohol
March 2024