For cancer patients, having the disease is a financial burden.

Fifty-seven-year-old breast cancer survivor Laarni Pagiou of Balanga City, Bataan recalls that her chemotherapy alone cost P72,000 per session and she needed six sessions.

There is also radiation therapy costing P1,560 per session, Pagiou also said. She spent P40,560 for the 26 radiation therapy sessions needed. 

Hormonal therapy added another P14,400 in expenses at P800 per pack spread out over five years.

Pagiou is happy to have taken part in a recent Department of Trade and Industry livelihood training sponsored by thermal power plant company GNPower-Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD).

"Nakakkatuwa po at hindi nakalimutan ang mga kagaya namin. Ngayon po may pagkakataon kaming maging small business owners, (I'm glad we were not forgotten. Now we have a chance to become small business owners.)" she said, referring to the dishwashing liquid making training hosted by DTI and GNPD at the La Arnie's Farm, Munting Batangas in Balanga for members of the Bataan Cancer Society and Support Group (BCSSG) on 22 March.

Trainor Veronica Señoreses of G's Enterprises demonstrated the mixing of do-it-yourself dishwashing liquid, assisted by Jennifer Lennon of JML Trading. 

The livelihood training aims to teach cancer patients how to earn around P500 a day, according to Señoreses.

"Our goal is to teach them to produce 13 liters of dishwashing liquid that could be sold P50 to P70 per 240ml," she said.

"This helps them to find a sustainable avenue to support their families despite their current struggles," she added.

Income for recovery

Another trainee from BCSSG, 65-year-old Lourdes D. Diwa, expressed her elation over the free training. 

"Napakasaya ko dahil sa simpleng training na ito eh malaki ang maitutulong sa pamumuhay namin at kalaunan eh maaari din namin maging negosyo, (I'm so glad because this simple training will be a big help to us and later on may become our business.)" she said.

The cancer patient from Orion town had Stage 2 breast cancer for over a year, with PhilHealth paying for her chemotherapy.

"Malaki rin po nagastos namin sa operation at gamot, umabot po ng mahigit P150,000, (We a spent lot in the operation and medicines. It cost over P150,000)" she added, citing that she and her husband had a hard time raising the money since he only works as a tricycle driver.

According to GNPD, the beneficiaries were chosen by its Project Saysay volunteers, specifically the employee celebrating a birthday last month. The company approached municipal health officer Dr. Domeng Sampang for a recommendation.

Señoreses said the training provides beneficiaries a source of income that they can use for their treatment and recovery. 

GNPD volunteers and 35 cancer patients took part in the training where they were taught the step-by-step process of making a dishwashing liquid.

They mixed water with surfactant, degreaser, foam booster, scented oils and coloring agents. 

GNPD also donated 100 dishwashing solution sets to be given to all the members of the BCSSG. Each set can make up to 13 liters of dishwashing liquid.

The trainees, BCSSG president Arnie Santos, vice president Joey Diaz, other officers, coordinators, members and volunteers thanked GNPD for sponsoring the livelihood training.

GNPD operates under the private limited partnership of AboitizPower's Therma Power Inc. and AC Energy Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation and Power Partners Ltd. Co. It has a 1,336 megawatts coal-fired power plant in Mariveles, Bataan.