Northern Samar is reportedly bringing in more micro – finance institutions than ever; thus, builds more hope and gives greater access to credit facilities to the province’s poorest of the poor.
Governor Paul Daza revealed this in a press conference conducted last week by the DSWD Field Office Eight, at the Governor’s Boardroom at the Provincial Capitol in Catarman, Northern Samar.
The agency, under the leadership of Regional Director Leticia Corillo, started holding provincial press conferences to promote its Convergence Strategy Program, that involves the harmonization of the Department’s three major poverty reduction programs – the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services : Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KALAHI-CIDSS : KKB), Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya), and the Self – Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran Program (SEA-K).
Daza, a staunch advocate of social welfare and development, said he is glad that his province is being prioritized for the three programs. “Northern Samar is one of the biggest beneficiaries,” the provincial official proudly told media.
He, however, revealed that the provincial government has been contributing sizeable amounts as counterparts for these programs. Under the KALAHI-CIDSS, Daza said, it has poured in almost Php 5 M for schoolbuildings alone!
Furthermore, the Governor gave emphasis in said press conference, that the province will soon pursue an intense partnership with the SEA-K, with the help of the Grameen Bank – a community development bank or “bank for the poor” which started in India, and emerged to stand on its own, with 90 % shares from the borrowers who are the rural poor, and ten % only from the government.
He announced that the province is still studying on how to go about this Grameen Bank – funded livelihood program.
The DSWD‘s SEA-K Program was patterned after said bank’s approach “which involves lending to groups rather than individuals, does not entail collateral, and requires clients to repay loans in weekly instalment.” It utilizes peer pressure within the group to ensure repayment, for borrowers to develop good credit standing.
Said Regional Project Development Officer Hermanito Mangalao, who was also present in the media gathering, the SEA-K is also a capability – building program, not only of the DSWD but in coordination with local government units, the aim of which is to enhance the socio – economic skills of poor families through the organization of community-based associations for entrepreneurial development.
He bared that under the Department’s Convergence Strategy Program, Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are given priority for livelihood assistance in order for them to be able to keep up and enhance the socio – economic benefits they gained even beyond the five – year intervention of the conditional cash transfer program.
As of to date, the Field Office has extended a total seed capital assistance of Php 1.2 M to 120 SEA-K beneficiaries of the priority Pantawid Pamilya areas of the province, namely: Palapag, Pambujan, Catubig, and San Roque. Mapanas, a remote and fifth class town, was a recipient of the DSWD – National Livelihood Support Fund (NLSF) – People’s Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC) Micro-Finance Project in year 2007.
DSWD Field Office Eight Director Leticia Corillo bared that previously, Mapanas had no formal lending institution existing in the locality, and all the more drove the poor rural folk into further deprivation. The micro – financing program, which invested some Php 1.22 M in loans, helped speed up the economic development in the countryside, with 40 families making a headstart.
The said beneficiaries are now into fish vending, sari-sari store, piggery, selling animal feeds, poultry – raising, and eatery.
Now, the PANTAWID PAMILYA will touch more lives in the municipality, and the province as a whole. For sure, it will not take long that Northern Samar will be alive with more and more economic activities, as the poor become active participants in nation – building.