Brgy. Tranca, Bay, Laguna
16 March 2016
President Benigno S. Aquino III graced the opening program for the 30th year of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) where he underscored his administration’s governing principle of inclusive growth patterned after the advocacy of his late mother, Former President Corazon Aquino’s people empowerment through microfinance and cooperative-based activities.
According to the President, data from 2013 showed that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprised for more than 99 percent of business establishments all over the country, accounting for a job creation figure of 63.7% within the same year.
“Dito nga po natin isinulong ang microfinancing, bilang bahagi ng agenda nating ‘financial inclusion.’ Katuwang po ng gobyerno ang mga institusyong kagaya ng CARD MRI sa pagbibigay ng suportang pinansiyal sa ating mga Boss, upang tulungan silang makabangon sa kahirapan…Sa pangunguna ng Bangko Sentral, may access na ngayon ang mas maraming LGU sa mga serbisyong gaya ng microfinance, microenterprise loans at microinsurance. Nandiyan rin ang Economic and Financial Learning Program at Financial Empowerment Sessions ng BSP na layong magbigay ng sapat na kaalaman sa pangangasiwa ng pondo. Nitong nakaraang taon, inilunsad naman ang National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, na magsisigurong nasasakop ang lahat, mula indigenous people at kababaihan, sa ating sistemang pinansyal,” President Aquino said.
He added that several laws have also been passed to strengthen the initiatives in this sector, such as the Microfinance NGOs Act and the Credit Surety Fund Cooperative Act.
“Ang good news nga po, dahil sa mga inisyatibang ito, kinilala ng Economic Intelligence Unit ang Pilipinas bilang number 1 sa Asya at pangatlo sa buong mundo pagdating sa pagtataguyod ng financial inclusion noong 2014 at 2015. Patunay po ito: Sa Daang Matuwid, tumutoo tayo sa ating panata, na sa ating pag-unlad, walang maiiwan,” the President stressed.
* * *