Eradicating Poverty Conference

The MCPI (Microfinancing Council of the Philippines) had a regional conference on the theme Beyond Credit : A Holistic Approach to Poverty Eradication, and we at Hapinoy were invited to share our experience and perspective on the topic.

The topic is actually quite interesting, especially since we founded MicroVentures/Hapinoy specifically on this insight : Given that Microfinancing’s “technology” had been “perfected” – to the tune of 99+% repayment rates – the next step really is to provide business development services.

Here are some pictures and my comments on the event :

Angel de Leon, Executive Director of TSKI gives the Welcoming Remarks to the Conference.

MCPI President and TSPI Executive Director Ruben de Lara delivers the Opening Remarks. He contextualizes how Microfinancing as a field has certainly grown, but the future demands a new approach beyond just access to financing. This is really the running thread – a new paradigm in which MFI’s must evolve beyond credit into delivering more services to those who need it the most — particularly Healthcare, Education, Shelter, Sanitation, and Microinsurance.

Keynote Speaker Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Reynato Puno delivers the keynote address. He touches on the poverty situation in the Philippines and the solutions percolating around the sphere, of which microfinancing plays a key part. Really cool moment — he actually cites Hapinoy as one of those examples, and was actually able to articulate it in accurate detail (woohoooo!). He then proceeds to share the Justice Department’s efforts in delivering services to the poor, specifically the “Justice on Wheels”.

Roundtable on “Services of MFI’s to Clients that go Beyond Credit” – Angel de Leon, Executive Director of TSKI, Julius Alip of CARD-BDS, Fr. Jovic Lobrigo of Simbag sa Pag-Asenso, and Gilbert Maramba of Negros Women’s Foundation.

Professor Ron Chua of AIM, who has dedicated his academic work into the study of Microfinance and poverty alleviation;

He gave an insightful talk wrought with (some slightly depressing) statistics on the Philippines. The challenge he really poses to the microfinancing industry is this : how can we dramatically increase the incomes of a broader segment of clients, thereby helping them cross the poverty threshold?

Happy Tan, Country Head of Grameen Foundation Philippines asks a question to the panel.

Our roundtable discussion on “Other Complementary Services” –with me in the picture are Rolando Victoria of Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc and Ma. Victoria Abello of NWTF.

We shared Hapinoy’s Path to Prosperity for the Community Stores, as well as our strategy on evolution — specifically, developing and rolling out Hapinoy+ as well as opening up the Hapinoy network to micro-producers.

Thanks to Hapinoy’s Communication Head, Pabsy Pabalan, i’ve now taken the discipline of taking my picture with the conference streamer during such events we participate in :p

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This entry was posted on Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 8:00 am and is filed under A Better World, Hapinoy, Philippines 2020, Social Business Enterprise. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.