Philippine rural banks learn new trends, paradigm on micro-financing

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 30, 2011) – The Mindanao Development Authority said Monday that more developments and better paradigm on rural banking are expected from the country’s rural banks before the year ends.

It said the recently concluded national conference attended by representatives from different rural banks in the country introduced the latest trends in international rural banking system. The conference was conducted by the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines and Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS).

With its theme “Microfinance-Facing A New Paradigm,” the conference provided
rural banks from across the country a series of lectures on topics such as ‘The Changing Face of Microfinance and Rural Banking, MIX Market Performance and The Price is Right.’

Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, head of the Mindanao Development Authority, said the efforts of RBAP-MABS and Rural Bankers Research Development Foundation have contributed immensely to the achievements of the overall national goals of sustainable growth and development.

“The MABS Program continues to put forward best approaches and mechanism to
enhance the capabilities and initiatives of the rural banking industry to reach to the still untapped segment of the rural sector,” Antonino said.

The MABS Program, which is implemented under the oversight of Mindanao Development Authority, is one of the programs funded by the United States Agency for International Development and covered by the Mindanao Peace and Development Assistance agreement between Manila and Washington.

Antonino said that the participation of rural banks from Mindanao in the conference indicated the strengths and developments of the rural banking system in the southern Philippines and its determination to upgrade for the benefit of their communities.

She said among the Mindanao banks that participated to the conference were Cantilan Bank, 1st Valley Bank, Rural Bank of Katipunan, Rural Bank of Liloy, Rural Green Bank of Caraga, and Rural Bank of Oroquieta. (Mindanao Examiner)