Outstanding microentrepreneurs and microfinance institutions (MFIs) who have successfully transitioned their business to harness digital solutions have been honored at the 1st Digital Financial Inclusion Awards (DFIA) on December 6, 2022.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Citi Philippines headed the virtual awarding of the 1st DFIA, which aims to strengthen financial inclusion through digitalization of the microfinance sector in the Philippines. The DFIA program is a financial inclusion initiative funded by Citi Foundation in partnership with the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) and with support from the BSP. The program focuses on acknowledging outstanding microentrepreneurs as well as MFIs that have successfully adopted digital solutions in their operations and an awareness and readiness campaign on digitalization of MFIs.
Twenty-four microentrepreneurs were recognized and awarded with cash prizes and laptops. The fourteen winners who were awarded with PhP100,000 are: Norma Alcrates, Lorie Jane Almazora, Phoebe Borce, Margie Bunzol, Ofelia Cabral, Marilyn Centeno, Vicente Cristobal, Rosalyn Espenorio, Jeriel Gelito, Josie May Iroy, Susana
Malabanan, Sarah Jane Pascual, Leonie Reyes, and Ma. Hazel Vitamog. Ten winners who were more advanced in the use of digital solutions were awarded with PhP110,000. The winners are: Angelita Dagoc, Rosalinda Espana, Maxima Forbes, Merlyn Jolo, Ma. Sol Manlabe, Nida Lyn Paculba, Lalyn Reporas, Adela Rivadeneira, Melanie Valenzuela, and Alfredo Villocino.