CARD conducts Kaunlaran Caravan; aims to empower locals of Quirino

CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) provided a wide range of community development services in the municipality of Diffun in Quirino province on March 23, 2018.

The local community received healthcare services, financial literacy for the members’ children, SSS orientation, family planning seminar, livelihood training and insurance awareness through the collaborative efforts of institutions under CARD MRI and its partners.

“We are driven by our passion to help the marginalized sectors. It is our thrust to provide products, programs, and services that will assist the socioeconomically challenged families to rise above poverty,” said CARD MRI Managing Director Flordeliza Sarmiento.

Community Development Programs

The Community Health Day (CHD) benefitted 484 residents of Diffun and in the neighboring towns. They received free medical, dental, and optical check-up and discounted medicines.

In celebration of women’s month, CARD MRI also provided prenatal check-up for pregnant CARD members. They were given pregnancy pamper kits in preparation for their childbirth. “We are providing health care services to create positive ripple effect in the communities that we serve. Giving them access to free and/or affordable and quality healthcare services through our partnership with healthcare providers, CHDs, community clinics, and laboratories are part of our effort to assist them,” said Microfinance and Health Protection (MaHP) Deputy Director Dr. Roderick Belen.

Livelihood program

During the livelihood training, there were 34 members who learned how to make processed meat. This will equip CARD clients with knowledge on food processing should they decide to start their own business.

The training was facilitated by CARD-MRI Development Institute (CMDI), a member institution of CARD MRI. “We, at CMDI, value education. Sharing new knowledge and new experiences to our clients will mold them to become better and responsible individuals,” CMDI Vice President for Learning and Development Dr. Edzel Ramos, said.

Valuing social security protection

In the Kaunlaran Caravan, CARD invited the Social Security System (SSS) to orient communities on the advantages of being covered by SSS. SSS has been a good partner of the organization for many years, ensuring CARD clients are covered with its benefits. CARD urges the communities to be also covered as it acknowledges the importance of social security protection to each individual.

This is the first Kaunlaran Caravan this 2018 and CARD will bring this activity to communities in Visayas and Mindanao later this year.

Raising penny-wise kids

Financial literacy was also organized for members’ children and relatives to educate them about the value of money and to develop the habit of saving. Rizal Bank, Inc., one of the banking institutions of CARD MRI, will soon open its branch and micro banking offices (MBOs) in Quirino province in which children can open a kiddie savings account to secure their future. “Educating the younger generation is one of the major efforts of the CARD MRI Banking group. We wanted to develop a stronger generation that values savings to ensure a brighter future ahead of them,” said Rizal Bank Senior Regional Director Ma. Adoracion Ola.

Building a stronger community

“CARD MRI has been in the business of poverty eradication for 31 years where building a stronger future for every Filipino family has been its endeavor. We provide an all-inclusive approach to the development of our members considering their different needs to uplift their way of living,” said Sarmiento. It continually innovates products and services to better assist the unprivileged families in the country.