Alterna Savings' "CSR Idol" Contest: Manila, Philipines

Francine Dick, SCOOP! — 1 Dec 2008

CSR Idol Discovers Humour, Optimistic Spirit amidst Poverty in the Philippines

Last year, Alterna Savings held its first "CSR Idol" contest to recognize Alterna staff who are shining stars in the area of community social responsibility. Staff nominated a number of their colleagues, and Alterna members voted for their favourite among three finalists. The winner of the 2007 CSR Idol was Francine Dick, Certified Financial Planner from the Bay Street branch of Alterna Savings in Toronto. As part of her award, Francine spent nine days in The Philippines with the Canadian Co-operative Association observing how co-operatives are helping people help themselves. This is her story.

MANILA - If the Philippines is described as a nation of 7,000 islands, then Manila could be described as a city of 7,000 malls. Three alone are across the street from our hotel, including the SM Megamall, which sounds ominous.

From the moment we are greeted at the airport by Milo, our Filipino associate, I am smitten with this city and her people. Milo's perpetual smile, graciousness and good humour are typical of everyone I meet. A born and bred city girl, I am fascinated with Manila's energy and sense of self. Life spills out into the streets, making them lively and communal. A man pushes into stopped traffic, selling newspapers with one hand and cigarettes tied from a carton around his neck with the other. Traffic is continuous and chaotic but somehow works.

Like micro loans, micro insurance is based on the idea that a small amount can make a big difference. Micro loans are given mostly to women, and as a condition of the loan, they must get insurance. For 20 pesos (about 50 cents) a week a woman receives 30,000 pesos (about $735) of life insurance for herself, 20,000 pesos for her husband and 5,000 pesos for each child. It also offers medical reimbursement of up to 2,000 pesos per year and if she remains in the program for at least three years, 50 per cent of the premiums are returned as savings if she decides to leave the Mutual Benefit Association.

Nonoy from RIMANSI drives us to Cabanatuan a couple of hours north of Manila. A subtle jokester, it takes me awhile to catch on to when he's pulling my leg. We meet Rolando Victoria, the executive director of ASKI, a micro finance organization with more than 50,000 members in 21 branches. Many of these branches have Mutual Benefit Associations which provide insurance for their members. The clients of the MBA's are also the owners, who elect a Board of Directors. At the ASKI office in Cabanatuan I have the wonderful experience of attending a Board of Directors meeting composed entirely of women. One woman tells me that she used to work for someone in the rice fields making about 150 pesos ($3.70) a day, but with her loan she has been able to rise above poverty.

After a huge and delicious buffet lunch we visit another factory of the People with Disabilities Cooperative. Like the others, they have a large contract with the Department of Education manufacturing school desks. Rudi, the director, tells us that 26 people work here, including six in the office and eight deaf workers. From Manila we fly south to Iloilo City and, with typical Filipino hospitality, are met at the airport with flowers. Iloilo has the feel of a beach town with broad sidewalks and spacious streets and a slightly less frenetic pace than Manila. Devastated by Typhoon Frank in May of 2008, they have rebuilt and carried on. Luis Posa, a long standing board member of the Association of Differently Abled Persons in Iloilo Multi-Purpose Co-operative, has more energy than men half his age. Besides helping run the co-operative he has several projects on the go, including one for vermiculture with the ingenious name of Global Worming.

At lunch I am introduced to inasal chicken, barbecued and skewered on a stick, which becomes my favourite way to eat poultry. After lunch we witness micro-finance in action as a dozen women meet, chat, sign for their loans and receive their pesos. Rules of credit are very strict and full responsibility is placed upon the borrower. The default rate for these micro-loans is less than two per cent. We in North America should take a few lessons.

Category: Community