Rooted from the Catholic Relief Service Program under partnership with the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan (AVC) as a social action program, SFI Development or popularly known as SAKLAW has evolved and transformed into an independent and self-reliant social and micro-enterprise foundation. Today, it is presently serving the entrepreneurial sector of Oriental Mindoro. Literally Saklaw bears a Tagalog definition as kasali, kasama, katapong. In the English language, it is literally defined as, encompassing. The Tagalog definition of SAKLAW bears a cultural virtue and value of relationship among Filipinos and particularly Mindoreños. In Tagalog, we call it damayan, saknungan or tapungan. The cultural definition of SAKLAW is in harmony with one of the fundamental principles of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church which we call, principle of solidarity. This principle highlights the intrinsic social nature of the human person, the equality of all in dignity and rights, and the common path of individual and people towards an ever more committed unity for the common good.
Programs and Services
Contrary to popular belief that the poor cannot save, SFI believed otherwise. The built-in capital formation scheme of the program unique to Grameen Banking, proved that the poor are actually good savers. This is being manifested by being able to budget small income to all household needs at any given period of time. This ability and behavior signals a bigger propensity to save if access to resources is within their reach.
Like any other persons, those who
belong to the low income and
informal sector of the society are
exposed to risks such as death,
loss of assets caused by accident
and/or catastrophes, Occurrence of
these events would require them to
incur unexpected expenses they
may not be prepared to handle.
Having an insurance coverage
would protect and prepare them
for these events and minimize
impact on their cash and financial
position. With insurance coverage,
the poor and the low income
sector will be in better position to
quickly recover from shocks
brought about by these events.
While micro-insurance may not
provide the client with all the
needed coverage, it offers timely
cash assistance, enabling those
who suffered losses to start
rebuilding their lives and
properties, settle their bills, bury
their dead and move on quickly.
Recognizing the client’s need to
protect their family, SFI
continuously partnered with
Mercantile Insurance Company to
deliver an affordable insurance
package that would offer a value
to the clients. For the year 2018, a
total of 1,161 clients
benefited from microinsurance.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
A. Member’s Protection
The member, while the subscribed program is in force, shall be covered comprehensively with the following insurance protection.
    1. Protection against Sickness and Death
        a. Financial Assistance on Natural Cause of Death
        b. Hospital Cash Assistance
        c. Burial Assistance
    2. Accident Protection
        a. Accidental Death Benefit
        b. Permanent and Total Disablement of Accidental Cause
        c. Medical Reimbursement
        d. Weekly Indemnity
B. Benefits for Member’s Spouse
    1. Protection against Sickness and Death
        a. Financial Assistance on Natural Cause of Death
        b. Hospital Cash Assistance
        c. Burial Assistance
    2. Accident Protection
        a. Accidental Death Benefit
        b. Permanent and Total Disablement of Accidental Cause
        c. Medical Reimbursement
        d. Weekly Indemnity
C. Protection for Member’s Legal Dependents
        1. Insurance against death of natural cause
        2. Insurance against total and permanent disablement of accidental cause
        3. Financial Assistance on Natural Cause of Death
        4. SOCIAL PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
A. CHARACTER BUILDING
Good character is an essential part of a healthy and sound personality so SFI through its programs and services aims to help strengthen and enhance the character of its members and its own personnel as well.
B. VALUES FORMATION
As Filipinos, we put great importance in our values as a people - cultural, social, moral, spiritual, and the like. These values guide us on how to cope with our daily existence. Our values help to shape our personal principles and aspirations in life, what values we have reflect what we are. Through the values formation aspect of SFI, we hope to sustain the good values our forebears handed down to us as part of our heritage.
C. CAPACITATION BUILDING
Microfinance deals with business so different skills are required to put up a business, manage it, and sustain it. For our small and medium –scale entrepreneur members, SFI shall coordinate with its partner agencies to conduct livelihood trainings and provide technical assistance that will assist the members to have productive business ventures which in turn shall generate benefits for the welfare of their respective families and dependents.
D. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Mindoro is an agricultural island, agriculture being the major source of its subsistence. As such, it is but proper that we Mindoreños show that we care for our agricultural lands nurturing them through sustainable means. SFI which share the principle of sustainable agriculture will assist in promoting this advocacy to and through our microfinance members many of whom in one way or another are engaged in agriculture.
E. DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Mindoro is prone to natural disasters so it is advisable that people are aware how to cope with them when they come. That’s why SFI includes disaster management in its program of services through information dissemination on what to do before, during, and after a calamity strikes. Actual seminars are conducted in coordination with concerned agencies like the Red Cross and the local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Team.
F. EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
As part of SFI’s educational assistance program to its members, the organization provides financial assistance in the form of scholarship aid to qualified children of its good members. This is specifically in support to the tuition fee requirement of SFI member’s children who will pursue a college education.
A. PRODUCTIVE LOAN (PL)
        Productive Loan is intended for micro, small and medium entrepreneurs to finance the existing micro-enterprise business that can generate additional income to the family of which the borrower has enough knowledge and skills.
B. ANGAT NEGOSYO LOAN (ANL)
        Angat Negosyo loan may be availed by existing SFI clients with good credit performance that needs additional capital for their micro-enterprise business expansion and/or acquisition of business assets.
C. INDIVIDUAL LOAN (IND)
        A loan program for individuals engaged in micro business that needs accessible and affordable funds to higher capitalization. This is primarily geared towards the increase of their working capital or acquisition of fixed assets needed for their business and/or agricultural activities.
D. CALAMITY LOAN
        Loan window that is offered to existing clients
whose place has been declared under a state of
calamity. The loan proceeds are meant to aid the
borrower in rehabilitating, renovating or
recovering properties because of natural disaster.
E. EDUCATIONAL LOAN
        A loan window available to existing clients
intended to support the educational needs of the
client’s children, specifically for tuition fees.