CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO) client receives award from CMA

From left to right: Senior Regional Director (OIC), Welland Sales; Regional Director (OIC), Judith Yeban; Senior Operations Director (OIC) for Mindanao Operations, Alvin Villamena; CARD, Inc. Deputy Executive Director, Vicente Briones, Jr.; BSP representative, Mary Rose Roque; Carmelita Dapanas; Mr.Ronie Dapanas; CARD MRI Managing Director, Flordeliza Sarmiento; and MCPI representative, June Hamoy posed for a photo opportunity during the awarding ceremony held in Poblacion, Misamis Oriental last February 7, 2018.
From left to right: Senior Regional Director (OIC), Welland Sales; Regional Director (OIC), Judith Yeban; Senior Operations Director (OIC) for Mindanao Operations, Alvin Villamena; CARD, Inc. Deputy Executive Director, Vicente Briones, Jr.; BSP representative, Mary Rose Roque; Carmelita Dapanas; Mr.Ronie Dapanas; CARD MRI Managing Director, Flordeliza Sarmiento; and MCPI representative, June Hamoy posed for a photo opportunity during the awarding ceremony held in Poblacion, Misamis Oriental last February 7, 2018.

On its 15th year of recognizing outstanding microentrepreneurs in the Philippines, the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) recognized the achievements of Carmelita Dapanas, a CENTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (CARD), Inc. (A Microfinance NGO) client who instituted a semi-hydroponics and greenhouse organic farming in Misamis Oriental.

First awarded last December 6, 2017 as CMA’s Special Awardee for Agri Microbusiness at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) headquarters in Metro Manila, Dapanas was conferred the award twice when another awarding ceremony was staged in her hometown in Manticao, Misamis Oriental last February 7.

CMA is a nationwide search for outstanding microentrepreneurs in the Philippines that aims to increase awareness on microfinance and provides incentives to microentrepreneurs in the country in partnership with BSP, Citi Philippines, and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI).

“This [Special Awardee for Agri Microbusiness] award is given to microentrepreneurs who own agricultural businesses and who show exemplary work and character, and who serve as inspiration to other microentrepreneurs,” explained BSP representative Mary Rose Roque.

Dapanas has been a client of CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO) for seven years. CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO) is a member of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions’ (CARD MRI) with a common goal of eradicating poverty in the Philippines and upholding the lives of the Filipinos in the form of microfinance, microsavings, microinsurance, and entrepreneurship among others.

The holding of the ceremony in Misamis Oriental was aimed to also inspire microentrepreneurs in the local community.

“For me, winning this award is a great inspiration to do better in our businesses, not only for our family but also for the people we could extend help, like employment, for example,” Dapanas said in her speech.

“CARD, Inc. also gave me the chance to grow not only as a businesswoman but as a person. It opened opportunities for me, opportunities like this, and for that I am very thankful,” she added.

The event was attended by BSP representative Mary Rose Roque; MCPI representative June Hamoy; CARD MRI Managing Director Flordeliza L. Sarmiento; Deputy Executive Director, Vicente Briones, Jr. Senior Operations Director (OIC) for Mindanao Alvin M. Villamena; Senior Regional Director (OIC), Welland Sales, Regional Director (OIC), Judith Yeban, Employees from CARD, Inc. Manticao Unit headed by Unit Manager Jaide Austria, CARD, Inc. clients, Dapanas family, friends and relatives.