Seventeen Filipino microentrepreneurs and three microfinance institutions were recognized for their successful adoption of digital tools to grow their businesses and support underserved communities at the 4th Digital Financial Inclusion Awards (DFIA).
The program, organized by the Microfinance Council of the Philippines Inc. (MCPI) and the Citi Foundation with support from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), awarded each microentrepreneur P100,000 in cash grants and laptops to further their digital transitions. The winners represent various sectors including agriculture, food production, retail and handicrafts.
The individual awardees for this year include Josephia Azores, Roby Grace Bernabe, Mylene Bersabal, Carmelita Dapanas, RJ De Chavez, Ailyn Flormata, Raquel Lanaban, Gladys Maipid, Edna Maloon, Annalisa Monil, Lorlie Noblezada, Rosalie Orijola, Cecilia Oroc, Maricar Pagao, Danise Palmero, Niel Danica Polong and Alan Romero.
At the institutional level, the DFIA recognized GRF Hublag Microfinance Foundation Inc., MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center and Taytay Sa Kauswagan Inc. for leadership in advancing digitalization within the microfinance ecosystem.
BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said during the ceremony that the awardees prove digital tools are no longer out of reach or too complicated for small business owners. He said simple innovations such as online selling, QR payments and business systems are rewriting what is possible for local entrepreneurs.
