K-Power @
Southville 8C
Joey Concepcion, author of the Go Negosyo book said that there are three Ps to a successful business: passion, persistence and perseverance. But for Southville 8C Site 3, Rodriguez, Rizal housing beneficiaries, they think and believe they have more than that.
Now they have a new, safe, affordable and decent home that inspires them even more to strive. They have the National Housing Authority's (NHA) free livelihood trainings and assistance which they implement in their site. And they have their fellow supportive homeowners who are willing to learn new skills, which then led to the creation of their community business - K Power.
Empowered with the free skills training on dishwashing liquid from NHA and its partner Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), the men and women of Southville 8C ventured into their own business. They were given one free liquid dishwashing kit after the training. And with that kit, their first finished products were sold within the neighborhood which then enabled them to buy two (2) sets of liquid dishwashing kits. After experiencing the possible profitability of the business, the group decided to seek NHA's help in marketing their product and in partnering them with product users.
Partnership: K Power, NHA and Ayala. NHA recommended to Ayala to tap the Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC) as a potential market for the cleaning materials. As a process, a test was conducted to determine the acidity or chemical content of each K Power product. Fortunately, all products passed the test and proved that they are environment-friendly, hence, more purchase orders from the APMC maintenance service providers came.The Ayala Land Incorporated (ALI) also provided financial assistance for the miscellaneous expense incurred in the initial operation of the business.
The Authority also tapped the assistance of Donaire Fragrances, where the source of raw materials come from. Here the outfit provided technical support in the production process of the cleaning materials to ensure product quality. In addition, it provided the group with free use of an electric mixer and container drums which they needed in their initial production. Also, Donaire gave them a 15-day term for paying the raw materials they asked to be delivered based on purchase orders.
K Power was born through the growing entrepreneurial spirit of SV 8C and the empowerment brought by the NHA's Fish Project' – liquid dishwashing making. The group is composed of 14 former North Triangle informal settlers headed by Egmedio B. dela Vega Jr. or ka Deo of Block 3 Lot 21, Southville 8C, 1K, San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal, Homeowners Association President and K Power Quality Controller and Imelda N. Oponda, of Blk 6, Lot 276, 1K, Kasiglahan Village, K Power President.
After three months of running K Power from that one P195.00 free starter kit from each training graduate, they have now produced 932 gallons of cleaning materials and a collection of P167, 960.00 from Ayala's maintenance service providers. With a gross profit of P50,388.00 from the total sales, 20% or P10,077.60 is appropriated for their housing amortization.
Now, K Power also produces and sells liquid hand soap, all purpose liquid detergent and liquid toilet bowl cleaner in their neighborhood and local government units. Funny but true: Their capital? Free liquid dishwashing starter kit, hard work, perseverance, developed and growing partnerships with other organizations and NHA livelihood training.
K-Power's Culture
K Power's culture on believing that if there is hardwork, respect and care for its consumers, togetherness and strong faith in God, they can bravely meet the challenges they face in their everyday life in SV 8C and in running their business.
Mang Deo appeals to fellow SV 8C beneficiaries not to depend on NHA much but instead they have to work hard just the same while they were in North Triangle area.
He also emphasized to K Power members that while NHA initiated and extended livelihood trainings they have to develop these trainings into something profitable. They are happy that NHA's efforts are not wasted on them and that they really benefitted from NHA's efforts in extending livelihood services. He enthuses, "nakikita naman ng NHA na nagbunga ang ginawa nila sa amin."
Spread the word.
Re-orders of K Power products from Ayala service providers and local users only speak of the quality and value of their products. It is also because they are highly concerned with their consumers.
What makes their consumers happy and satisfied makes K Power happy too albeit the income that comes with the business (For every gallon mixed, a person can earn P10.00). They hope that through the word of mouth and spread of good stories, K Power will be a household product that will compete with the commercial ones and remain to be a product that other maintenance service providers will support.
And as Mang Deo puts it, "word of mouth is the cheapest form of advertisement".
Dreams of Distributorship
K Power also delivers raw materials of liquid hand soap, liquid dishwashing detergent and liquid toilet bowl cleaner and all purpose detergent to some Local Government Units in Rizal. Mang Deo states that in doing so, this saves them in bottling their products and they wish to deliver the same to other LGUs in other towns.
Income
One year after their voluntary relocation, Mang Deo and his fellow homeowners realized that they have to pay their monthly amortization as stated in the Memorandum of Agreement they signed last year, May 11, 2010.
As part of the project's net income, 20% shall be set aside for the payment of the member's lot/housing amortization, K Power members did not mind earning a little income from something they have worked hard.
'Hindi mahalaga kung maliit man ang kinikita mo sa trabahong ginagawa mo, ang mahalaga kumikita ka sa trabahong pinag-iigihan mo nang buong husay' Mang Deo humbly shared. Mang Deo is proud that their profit is not lower than 35% in less than four months of operating the business and they are confident that they will be able to pay their liabilities and be able to address their marketing strategies soon.
Product Development
Product development is next in their priority list like coping with the demand and advocacy on environment-friendly products. K Power, continually improves their product, adopting a more environment-friendly contents. They are currently studying how to make their liquid toilet bowl cleaner less acidic and with less use of muriatic acid.
K power is just one of the five ongoing livelihood programs of NHA in SV8C Site 3. Food processing, Bigasang Bayan, Water Refilling Station and Rags making are the other livelihood programs.
The K Power group lends P1,000.00 as initial capital to food production/processing group which started their first food preparation and selling last May 8, 2011. According to Ms. Ofelia R. Catajoy, Livelihood Development Unit Teamhead, the food processing group earned 45% from that initial food preparation of puto, kutsinta, burger patties, siomai, and skinless longganisa. With a positive feedback from consumers, the group is eager to continue the food preparation/processing business and sell their snacks to their community.
The Bigasang Bayan and the water refilling station groups are two business/ entrepreneurship proposals created by SV8C homeowners which NHA warmly supported. Todate, the groups are waiting for the release of their capital cheques to start the business. However, they have to comply with the pre-release requirement which is putting-up their equity participation in the business in compliance to NHA Memorandum Circular No. 2300 entitled, Policy and Implementing Guidelines for the Utilization and Disbursement of Livelihood Program Seed Fund.
In partnership with Rags to Riches (R2R) and Tuwid na Daan Foundation, Inc. (TNDF), the NHA is facilitating the conduct of "skills training-cum production of rags making to 50 identified target participants. The said training shall be conducted on June 10-12, 2011 at the newly constructed Livelihood Productivity and Training Center at the resettlement site.
TNDF committed to finance the raw materials to be used during the skills training, a 15-day inventory of raw materials for the production of rags and other miscellaneous expenses to be incurred in the project.
R2R on the other hand, will provide trainees, a starter kit (frame and scissors) and marketing of finished products.
SV8C housing beneficiaries are self-made entrepreneurs and they continue living their full potentials with their passion, persistence and perseverance. With positive partnerships with the NHA and Ayala, these homeowners can't wait for more opportunities to come, inspired by a home and a family.
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