“The knowledge I gained during the course helped me understand deeper my work and my role in KDCI”, said Mr. Erickson Bagsic. He is currently a field manager of Kasagana-Ka Development Center Inc. (KDCI) and is one of the eight KDCI staff who received a Diploma in Microfinance from Ateneo De Manila University. Ms. Lala Dacallos, who also received the diploma, added that the whole experience was enjoyable because of collective learning with her fellow KDCI staff. The diploma was conferred last October 5, 2012 during KDCI’s celebration of its 10th anniversary. SEDPI’s President, Mariel Vincent Rapisura and the Director of ADMU’s Development Studies Program, Leland Joseph Dela Cruz were present to award the certificates.
In addition to the diploma, 16 KDCI staff also received certificate of completion for having completed the modular requirements of the Diploma in Microfinance course. Ms. Judylyn Joven, one of the staff awarded with the certificate of completion and also the current Chief Operations Officer of KDCI, said that “Our learning from the course allowed us to know that we are doing the right things in terms of running our microfinance program.
The diploma course is part of the capacity building partnership between ADMU, SEDPI and KDCI. SEDPI started to deliver ADMU microfinance courses to KDCI in 2009. Ms. Celine Ramos, HR Officer of KDCI, stated that “the initiative built the capacity of the staff to participate in discourses and dialogues on microfinance. As a result, the staff became innovative in developing ideas and solutions to challenges encountered”. Ms. Joven added that “this collaborative effort from ADMU, SEDPI and KDCI will develop the capacity of KDCI staff toward a common goal of helping the clients of the institution”.
In 2010, KDCI was established as ADMU and SEDPI’s training hub partner in Metro Manila. The training hub partnership aims to strengthen the capacity of microfinance practitioners in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Through this, more participants are expected to receive their diploma in the coming years.