Being one the major microfinance wholesalers in the country, the Philippine Credit and Finance Corporation, familiarly known as PCFC, aims to (vision/outreach). It differentiates itself from other wholesaling institutions by providing regular trainings to its microfinance clients. In 2007, it commissioned SEDPI to develop and lead its trainings in various key cities in the country.
After sending two of its staff members to attend a Financial Analysis training at the Ateneo, PCFC saw it fit to contract SEDPI as trainors for its clients. Two trainings were identified: 1)Strengthening Internal Controls and Management Information System (SIC-MIC), which tackles internal control measures, auditing, and pertinent documentation; and 2) Strategic Credit and Risk Management (SCRM), a course focusing on client selection and delinquency prevention. As it was important for PCFC to bring the trainings near its clients, each course was to be conducted twice in Luzon and Mindanao, and once in the Visayas.
The frequency of trainings, its geographic scope, and the number – and quality – of participants is a mere testament to PCFC’s strength as a wholesaling institution. From July to October, a total of ten trainings on SIC-MIS and SCRM were conducted in the cities of Manila, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. More than 130 participants from over 60 microfinance institutions were in attendance. Among them were representatives from Center for Community Transformation (CCT), Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Life Bank Foundation, Metro Ormoc Community Cooperative (OCCCI), and Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes, Inc. (ARDCI). The variety of organizations, from cooperatives, to banks, to development foundations, made the trainings further enriching as experiences were shared and ideas were ventilated.
The tiring schedule did not deter the speakers to provide pleasant and informative sessions to the participants. The trainings were met with good evaluations and positive comments. At the end of the day, the participants look forward to seeing SEDPI at front of their future trainings with PCFC.