The viral woman who was filmed emerging from a drainage canal in Makati City will be receiving P80,000 to fund her “dream” of owning a sari-sari store.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has confirmed its decision to provide a financial aid in livelihood assistance to the woman identified as “Rose,” to help kickstart her dream of owning a store business — a goal she shared during her interview with social workers.
According to reports, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian personally met with Rose on May 29 at the DSWD’s Pag-abot Center in Pasay City to assess her condition and offer support.
“Ang magiging intervention natin kay Rose, pangarap daw niya kasing magkaroon ng tindahan at sa assessment ng ating social worker ay kaya naman niya,” Gatchalian told reporters.
DSWD will also explore options to support her partner, identified as Jerome, by offering skills training and possibly providing him with welding equipment to stabilize the couple’s income.
“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,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
Rose and Jerome lived in a street along Pasong Tamo in Makati City for a year but persevered to earn and be able to rent a space where they could stay.
Furthermore, Gatchalian said that assisting individuals and families in street situations (FISS) is a directive from President Bongbong Marcos Jr., with the DSWD’s Pag-abot Center serving as a temporary shelter for them since 2023. The center helps street dwellers transition back to their hometowns through various support programs.
He also shared that Rose has committed to joining the Pag-abot team in outreach operations to encourage others in similar situations to seek help from the center.
Despite the government’s intentions, the assistance package has ignited a wave of criticism and sarcasm online with social media users posting memes and jokes suggesting that “crawling out of a sewer” is now a “fast-track” to government aid.
In response to the reactions, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said there is “nothing unusual for their department to help poor people such as Rose”.
She went on to clarify that Rose’s case underwent a “case management process wherein the latter was interviewed and assessed by social workers”.
“When social workers asked Rose what she wants, she said she wants a sari-sari store to start her life over,” The Philippine STAR quoted Dumlao in its report.
She also explained that Rose did not enter the canal as a “stunt” but to retrieve a small blade she uses to sort recyclable materials, which she collects and sells to junk shops. When Rose emerged and saw people staring, she panicked and fled, fearing she might be arrested.
Last Friday, May 30, Secretary Gatchalian emphasized that the P80,000 would not be released in full immediately. It will be given in tranches, with each portion dependent on Rose’s progress in managing the business.
“If we see that the business goes well, we will increase the assistance until we reach the whole amount of P80,000,” he explained.
It was reported that Rose and Jerome survived on scavenging and part-time work as a jeepney barker. They recently began renting a small space for P2,000 a month using their combined earnings — P300 daily from scavenging and P200 from street work.
According to Dumlao, as the couple has demonstrated basic budgeting skills, and Rose will undergo “financial literacy” training apart from the livelihood assistance, to help ensure that her ability to manage and sustain earnings from the sari-sari store.
