MFIs for Health: 18 Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) to Collaborate in Providing Health Services to the Poor

Laguna, Philippines – “When we deal with poverty alleviation, we provide our poor clients with quality financial services. We have gone beyond this. We now provide our clients with health services which are of quality, affordable and easily-accessed,” said Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, the Founder and Managing Director of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), during the Memorandum of Agreement Signing on February 11, 2013 in Makati City. The Joint Microfinance and Health Protection Program, or MFIs for Health, will make available to a total of 4.4 Million clients the health resources of the 18 MFIs who signed. With this, their clients now have wider and easier access to quality and affordable health services. The first joint activity of the group is a community health day in La Union on February 15 to 16, 2013 to be hosted by the ASA Philippines. Free medical consultation and discounted medicines will be provided.

Seated from left to right: Dr. Cecilia del Castillo (NWTF), Liza Eco (KMBI), Flordeliza Sarmiento (RRB), Dolores Torres (CARD Bank, Inc.), Mary Jane Pererras (CARD SME Bank), Elma Valenzuela (CARD Inc.), Susan Layug (DSPI), and Babylyn dela Cruz (ASKI). Standing from left to right: Manuel Perlas (Life Bank Foundation), Eduardo Mendoza (TSPI), Ernesto Galenzoga (RBT-MBA/FONUS), Kamrul Tarafder (ASA Philippines), Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip (CARD MRI), Epifanio Maniebo (RIMANSI), Juan Manuel Alba (BINHI), Dr. Edward Callanta (CCT), Rodolfo Quinday (KCCDFI), and Angelo Solarte (TSKI).