On August 12-13, 2026, MCPI organized the 2026 MCPI Annual Conference at the Century Park Hotel Manila, which was attended by more than 500 microfinance leaders, policymakers, and development practitioners. With the theme “From Recovery to Resilience: Shaping the Next Chapter of Philippine Microfinance,” the two-day event discussed the role of microfinance institutions in building resilient communities and explored how Philippine microfinance can be better equipped to respond to risks, improve financial health of clients and their households, and drive sustainable growth.
The conference had three session tracks – Financial Health and Resilience, Digitalization, and MFI Exchange. The Financial Health and Resilience track allowed participants to discuss topics including sustainable risk management solutions, client protection, resilient leadership models, and clean energy solutions while the Digitalization track enabled attendees to learn about cybersecurity and digital resilience, inclusive digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. The MFI Exchange sessions focused on areas including integrated solutions for recovery and growth, and balancing responsible growth and financial sustainability.
MCPI Chairperson Eduardo Jimenez welcomed the participants as he officially opened the conference. Dr. Eli M. Remolona, Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, provided the keynote message. During the first plenary session, Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip from CARD MRI, Jonar Dorado from RAFI Microfinance, Mercedes Faustino from Kasanyangan Microfinance Foundation, Inc. and Rafael Lopa from ASA Philippines Foundation shared strategies that their institutions adopted that enabled them to recover, adapt, and emerge stronger as they navigate various challenges and embrace change. Succeeding plenary sessions included topics on building financial health and resilience in Philippine microfinance and the emerging trends that will reshape the future of microfinance. During the closing plenary, MCPI Trustee Fr. Rex Paul Arjona provided key learnings from the 2-day conference as part of his closing message.
Preceding the conference, MCPI held its Annual General Meeting on August 11, 2026. Members of the Board of Trustees who took their oath of office were: Eduardo Jimenez of Kabalikat para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc. as Chairperson; Gilbert Maramba of Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. as Vice-Chairperson; Marilyn Manila of CARD as Corporate Secretary; Nilo B. Cellon, Jr. of ASA Philippines Foundation, Inc. as Treasurer; Jonar
Dorado of RAFI Micro-Finance, Inc. as Internal Auditor; and Jeffrey Dela Cruz of ASKI Microfinance, Maros Apostol of Community Economic Ventures, Inc., Fr. Rex Arjona of SEDPSimbag sa Pag-asenso, Inc., and Peter Montalban of Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc. as Members. The Trustees will serve until
July 2027.
Presentations can be downloaded here: https://microfinancecouncil.org/2026-annual-conference-materials-and-presentations/. Photos can be accessed here: bit.ly/2026MCPIConPhotos.
