First Macro Bank is MCPI's Newest Member - Banking with the Poor ...

MCPI and PWRF-SP Partner for Water Services and Sanitation2Last September 1-2, microfinance andtraining institutions based in Luzonattended a seminar on MicrofinanceProgram for Water Supply andSanitation (WSS) in Un-servedCommunities in Astoria Plaza, PasigCity following the same seminar heldin Cebu on May 26-27, 2011.The 2-day seminar, organized inpartnership between the MicrofinanceCouncil of the Philippines, Inc.(MCPI) and the Philippine WaterRevolving Fund Support Program(PWRF-SP) aims to encourage moremicrofinance practitioners to: (1)include water and sanitation in themicrofinance programs of theirrespective organizations, (2) partnerwith water service providers onwater supply to serve waterless andpoor households; and (3) significantlyimprove the sanitation aspect by2ugnayanis published by the MicrofinanceCouncil of the Philippines, Inc.All rights reserved. © 2011 by MCPI.Address all correspondenceand inquiries to:MCPI SecretariatUnit 1909 Jollibee Plaza CondominiumF. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center1605 Pasig City.Telephone Nos.:(+632) 631-5920, 631-6184Email:secretariat@microfinancecouncil.orgFacebook: Microfinance.CouncilTwitter: MFCouncilPHLoffering their clients loans for toiletconstruction or repair.Topics in the seminar includedProduct Development Cycle discussedby Mr. Cristopher Lomboy, Asia PPISpecialist of Grameen Foundation;Introduction to Water SupplyOperations and Sanitation, and CostEstimates of Different Models by Engr.Rene Capiz, Water Supply Engineer ofPWRF-SP; and Partnership Models forWater Supply and Sanitation by Ms.Doreen Erfe, Policy and InstitutionalSpecialist of PWRF-SP.Product development, according toMr. Lomboy, starts by identifyingneeds and opportunities-in this case,the need for water and sanitationbeforea product is designed andpilot-tested.Different partnership models amongMFIs, water utilities/water districts,water associations/borrower, andclients/households were discussedtogether with their respective rolesand obligations in the partnership.Cost estimates on different WSSmodels were also given.The Director for Alalay sa Kaunlaran(ASKI) Foundation, Inc. Babylyn F. delaCruz showed ASKI’s pilot water kioskproject in Barangay Bagong Sikat,Cabanatuan City. Inauguration of“Aguador sa Nayon” is in September2011.TSPI’s partnership with PWRF-SP developed and pilot tested amarketing tool and strategy to creategreater appreciation of the valueof proper human waste disposal.Since pilot testing commenced inthe chosen branches, more than thetarget number of clients availed of thesanitation loan and a 100% repaymentrate was observed for both existingand new clients.Institute for Popular Democracy(IPD) Local Governance ProgramCoordinator Erik Villanueva’spresentation focused on organizationof water cooperatives in waterlesscommunities and network withother associations for cooperationon technical, economic and policyissues. Models of water cooperativesin the country and in Bolivia werealso shown, including their successes,setbacks, and assistance given themby the local government.Video on Water for the Poor programof the USAID-Environmental ServicesProgram in Indonesia capped thepresentations.Participants of the seminar voicedoptimism on the project but cited thatit needs funds, capability-buildingand information drive so there will bemore takers-MFIs and clients alike.Copies of the Powerpoint and videopresentations, and the seminarreport are available from the MCPISecretariat.◊

Search is onfor 2011 CitiMicroentrepreneurof the YearAspirations. Hard work. Businessstrategy. Microentrepreneurialsuccess. These are what the CitiMicroentrepreneur of the Year (MOTY)is all about. And the search is on.The Microfinance Council of thePhilippines, Inc. (MCPI) receivedeighty four (84) nominations fromits members and sixty one (61) fromother networks after this year’slaunching of the Citi MOTY searchon May 27,2011. Out of this number,twenty four (24) nominees wereincluded in the shortlist as semifinalists.Teams composed of MCPI,the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)and Citibank volunteers have visitedthe nominees for interview andfurther evaluation after which twoscreenings will follow to determinethe winners.The awards have two categories-Masikap and Maunlad. Masikapnominees have business assets worthP300,000 or less while Maunladcandidates have P300,000 up toP1 million worth in assets. Therewill be one National winner andthree Island Group (Luzon, Visayasand Mindanao) awardees for eachcategory.National winners in the twocategories will receive P200,000 each;and the three Island Group awardeesP100,000 each. As an added benefitfor winners, a three-year life andhealth insurance coverage will alsobe awarded to them. The winners willalso undergo training on financialliteracy and entrepreneurship. AP10,000 incentive will also be givento the MFI’s branch and their loanofficers serving the winners fortheir part in the achievement of themicroentrepreneurs.More than 70 outstandingmicroentrepreneurs who haveimproved their quality of life andgenerated employment for othermembers of the community throughtheir sustainable enterprise have beenrecognized by the Citi MOTY searchsince the awards program started in2002.Announcement of winners will be inNovember 2011. ◊44Something new is coming soon...www.microfinancecouncil.orgMicrofinance, AgriProduction LoansAvailable for SmallFarmers/FishersAn initial P400 million fund hasbeen allocated by the AgriculturalCredit Policy Council (ACPC) tofund either agricultural productionor microfinance loans of eligiblesmall farmers and fishers in theareas of operation of participatingcooperative banks. For the full story,please go to http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=731559&publicationSubCategoryId=66 (clickthe link to view online article).◊