CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

2022

      The new normal brought about by the COVID-19 is both a challenge and an opportunity for us belonging in the microfinance business. It is a way of re-examining our situation and formulating new strategies that will suit to our institution. For more than two decades of existence, Saklaw Foundation, Inc., (A Microfinance NGO) has been of service to more than twenty thousand valued clients in Oriental Mindoro. Despite the numerous restrictions, our managers were still able to strengthen our connections to our clients. The challenges pushed as even more to deliver the much needed financial and non-financial services to our clients.

      Apparently, the different branches felt the problem and definitely slowed down the activity but it did not hinder the operation and instead showed great resolve to overcome the challenges at hand. One of the branches suffered in terms of client outreach due to the lockdown but other branches exhibited resiliency in the delivery of service. We have learned to adapt in this new normal by devising strategies that would allow us to safely operate and provide services to the entrepreneurial poor of the society and in effect empowering the women sector towards total human development.

      To address the immediate needs of our clients, we took the first initiative of setting up SFI’s directions for 2022 wherein the 12 point agenda were laid out to the management during the first Management Committee Meeting in 2022. The 12 point agenda became the institution’s anchor in delivering more responsive financial and non-financial services to the clients and its communities.

      The progress and development of SFI could be attributed to the commitment and dedication of its organic personnel. We thrive despite the adversity due to the fact that our people could easily adapt to the given situation by showing care to our clients. Our personal engagement is a testament of our desire to fully satisfy our clients.

      The continued growth and success of SFI is both a product of the tough decisions of the Board of Trustees, the leadership commitment of the executive management and employees unwavering support anchored on the vision, mission and goals of the institution. The top management protects employees’ safety and well-being; preserve their jobs, delivered the most sought services to our clients continuously and consistently thus reaching the institution’s financial stability.

      One of the major accomplishments this year is the implementation of our core microfinance system through the partnership with Jyosna, Inc. The management initiated the institutionalization of technical working group to enable the sharing of information and opinions to achieve the desired outcome before policies and/or procedures be proposed to the Board for approval. Oriental Mindoro is frequently beset by the natural disaster such as typhoon, flood, landslides, and earthquakes and one of our missions is to help communities to cope up with this. With the authority given by the Chairman, the Board approved the release of fund for calamity stricken areas.In collaboration with TESDA and DTI, we have conducted capacity skills training of our client in the different branches and continue to develop their practical skills for starting small home-based businesses. To reinforce our goal of reaching more underserved population, SFI continue to reach and deliver financial services in agricultural sector. The downloaded funds from Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) under the Agri-Negosyo (ANYO) Loan Program were used to help the Marginalized Small Farmers and Fishers (MSFF) to improve the efficiency, productivity and profitability of their farm and non-farm income generating activities. On the compliance side, MNRC approved our re-accreditation on a conditional status. With this conditional approval, SFI was placed under MNRC close monitoring and need to submit required documents on a quarterly basis for one year. Certain provision on the credit policies were also amended in response to MNRC’s evaluation on our loan products. On the letter sent by MNRC dated January 26, 2023, SFI has complied with all the requirements within one year of conditional accreditation, as a result, MNRC granted its full accreditation to SFI for 3 years. In the coming years, we will be introducing new strategies as envisioned by the Chairman considered to be the SFI Flagship and Strategic Program. It will be called Angat Hanap-Buhay Tungo sa Maunlad at Matatag na Pamumuhay (AHT-MMP). The Program components are 1. Community Based Entrepreneurship Program; 2. Sectoral Based Entrepreneurship Program; 3. Community Based Entrepreneurship Skills Training Program; 4. Community Based Health Program; 5. Community Based Outreach Program.


Let us continue to give service to our valued clients.