October 10, 2008 | SEAMEO Innotech, Quezon City
According to most microfinance institutions, only 2-5% of their clients graduate to the SME level. In a BDS workshop held in Bacolod City last May 2008, the need to conduct a study on what makes successful microentrepreneurs succeed and graduate to the small enterprise level was raised. [...]

Experts in the field of economics and finance gave a briefing on the impact of the current economic crisis to the microfinance industry. Dr. Cayetano W. Paderanga, Chairman of the Institute for Development and Econometric Analysis (IDEA) gave a background on the state of the global and local economy. This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Ana Tabunda, Executive Director of Pulse Asia, on the coping behavior of the poor. Lastly, Mr. Joey Bermudez, former President of Chinatrust, gave a talk on the implications of the crisis on financial institutions and suggestions on how to cushion the impact.

Ramon Magsaysay Hall, Ramon Magsaysay Bldg., Roxas Blvd.

Organized by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) in partnership with PinoyME Foundation and the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, the Briefing on NGO Investments aims to provide an orientation and advice to NGOs regarding their investments given the global financial crisis. A team of finance and banking experts have been tapped to conduct this briefing. Mr. Joey Bermudez, former President of Chinatrust and current Chair of Maybridge, gave an overview of the capital market in light of the global economic crunch.

Partner MFIs and schools used the draft competency standards (CS) in designing the Microfinance Loan Officer’s Course following TESDA format. The course outline and modules of instruction form part of the requirements under the Unified TVET Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS) of TESDA and also essential in implementing a competency-based education and training under the CHED program.

After the competency profiles for loan officer, team leader/supervisor, and branch manager were developed and validated with the help of 30 MFIs (12 from Luzon and 18 from Mindanao), a workshop on Competency Standards Development Course was held from July 21-25, 2008. The main objective of the course is to package draft competency standards for the three job positions. The competency standards would serve as basis and guide for developing and implementing competency-based education and training.