BPI BanKO and Ateneo: Working Together for
Microfinance Institutions

January 2013

BPI BanKO, the Philippines’ first mobile-based, microfinance-focused savings bank, reinforced its efforts towards sustainable development with the continuation of its partnership with the Ateneo de Manila University on enhancing capacities of microfinance institutions (MFIs).

The joint project, called “Ateneo-BanKO: Building Capacities of Microfinance Institutions”, was established in 2007 and is now on its fourth renewal.  Since its inception, the partnership through the Ateneo de Manila University’s Development Studies Program and its partner-trainers from the Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) has successfully equipped MFIs such as rural banks, cooperatives, non-government organizations and people’s organizations all over the country with the necessary skills and knowledge to further aid them in delivering microfinance services.  It has also extended technical support and mentoring assistance to program participants, thereby strengthening the policies and operations of their institutions.

To date, the program has conducted 89 training events covering 25 microfinance topics in 13 key cities.   More than 1,800 participants from 279 MFIs have attended the training programs, which has in turn benefitted over 2 million microfinance clients.  Courses offered include fundamentals and methodologies of microfinance, market-based financial product design and development, delinquency management, and financial analysis.

The program has also reached out to more participants by partnering with key microfinance players in the provinces to serve as training hubs.  Alay Sa Kaunlaran, Inc (ASKI) in Nueva Ecija, Nueva Segovia Consortium of Companies (NSCC) in Vigan, Metro Ormoc Community Cooperative (OCCCI) and Eastern Visayas Cooperative Federation (EVCF) in Leyte, Kasagana-Ka Development Center, Inc, (KDCI) in Quezon City, Community Rural Bank of Catmon (CRBC) in Cebu, and Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF) in Bacolod City are among the training hubs providing affordable and accessible training courses on a regular basis.  An added part of the program is the consultancy services provided SEDPI to MFIs.  Eligible institutions are allowed to avail of wholesale institutional loans from BanKO.

The program aims to hold more training events and set up training hubs in additional locations, offer new courses on energy efficiency and target more MFIs for Training and Mentoring Assistance (TAMA) in the next two years. (January 2013)

Interested participants in the Ateneo-BanKO: Building Capacities for Microfinance may contact Dimples Sacdalan at +63 2 4338795 or email at [email protected].

The BanKO-Ateneo agreement was signed last January 9 at the BPI BanKO head office by Teresita B. Tan , BPI BanKO President and Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J, Ateneo de Manila University President.  Also in attendance were (standing L-R) BanKO executives Josaias Dela Cruz, VP for Institutional Business Group; Nell Salvador, BanKO Training Academy Head; Francis Abcede, Manager for Insitutional Business Group and Gigi Gatti, VP for Emerging Markets; with Divina Quemi, NSCC Chief Executive Officer; Analiza Nacua, OCCCI Team Leader; Rolando Victoria, ASKI Executive Director; Vincent Rapisura, Program Manager for the Ateneo Microfinance and Capacity Building Program and President of SEDPI; Dr. John Paul Vergara, VP for Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University; Edwin Salonga, Chairperson of SEDPI; and Leland Joseph Dela Cruz, Ateneo Development Studies Program Director.