MCPI brought together more than 500 microfinance practitioners, funders, service providers, and partners for the 2025 MCPI Annual Conference on July 30-31, 2025 at the Century Park Hotel, Manila. With the theme “Microfinance and Sustainable Finance for the Poor,” stakeholders discussed the role of microfinance in improving the livelihoods of people at the base of the pyramid, enabling them to build assets, increase incomes, and reduce vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
The two-day conference had three session tracks – Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Sustainable Finance, Non-financial Services, and MFI Exchange. The ESG and Sustainable Finance track allowed participants to discuss topics such as clean and sustainable technologies, sustainable development, agricultural value chain finance while the Non-financial Services track enabled attendees to learn about partnerships with government agencies, financial education programs, and gender-inclusive microfinance. The MFI Exchange sessions focused on areas such as increasing staff satisfaction, enhancing the microfinance industry’s code of ethics, and preventing fraud and restoring clients’ trust.
Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of CARD MRI provided the keynote message, while Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, author of the Microfinance NGOs Act, delivered a video message expressing his support for the microfinance industry. During the first plenary session, Ms. Rhodora Brazil-De Vera from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Atty. Rachel Gumtang-Remalante from the Securities and Exchange Commission shared how ESG is being incorporated in regulations, while Ms. Joanna La’O from the Jollibee Group Foundation and Mr. Jimmy Ramos from Ahon sa Hirap, Inc. discussed how they integrated ESG in their programs and operations. Succeeding plenary sessions included topics on the Philippine economic outlook and the impact of technology in powering sustainable finance to the poor. Fr. Dennis Paez of Don Bosco Tondo Youth Center provided an inspirational session during the closing plenary. MCPI Outgoing Chairperson Gilbert Maramba was then recognized for his leadership from 2022-2025.
Preceding the conference, MCPI held its Annual General Meeting on July 29, 2025. Members of the Board of Trustees who took their oath of office were: Mr. Eduardo Jimenez of Kabalikat para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc. as Chairperson; Mr. Peter Montalban of Taytay Sa Kauswagan, Inc. as Vice-Chairperson; Ms. Marilyn Manila of CARD as Corporate Secretary; Mr. Nilo B. Cellon, Jr. of ASA Philippines Foundation, Inc. as Treasurer; Mr. Jonar Dorado of RAFI Micro-Finance, Inc. as Internal Auditor; and Ms. Jane Manucdoc of ASKI Microfinance, Mr. Dexter Flores of Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative, Mr. Gilbert Maramba of Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Inc., and Fr. Rex Arjona of SEDP-Simbag sa Pag-asenso, Inc., as Members. The Trustees will serve until July 2026.
Presentations can be downloaded here: https://microfinancecouncil.org/2025-annual-conference-materials-and-presentations/.
Photos can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/2025MCPIConPhotos.