Microfinance Program of PATAMABA

Region VI

The PATAMABA in Region VI has a highly successful microfinance program which recently integrated a damayan fund. Other programs and services include livelihood loans, savings mobilization/capital build-up, skills training, awareness raising (on gender issues and reproductive health), community organizing, entrepreneurship development, and marketing assistance.

The regional leadership has built on the tradition of mutual aid. Starting with the officers who contributed P5.00 a month to a reserve fund, the campaign for damayan membership continued among groups who were entering new lending cycles where social protection through burial assistance would already be integrated. All 183 participants in the microfinance program have joined in, contributing P2.50 every 15th and 30th of the month to total P5.00 a month.

The group also embarked on a campaign to enroll members in formal social protection schemes where members had the option to pay at a lower rate of P235 (instead of the regular SSS rate of P282). PATAMABA negotiated for informal accreditation as a collecting agent that charges P240 per member (P5 goes to the PATAMABA general fund).

Sixty officers and members in PATAMABA Region VI have enrolled in Philhealth – some through the indigent program of the LGUs, others through the auspices of their respective congressmen, although a few also entered as individually paying members who contribute P100 a month. There are also a few who are barangay health workers and therefore have Philhealth benefits as part of their incentive at work.

The Red Cross accident insurance program has attracted more members because the P35/year payment is light on the pocket. And there is an incentive for PATAMABA to collect P5 of the P35 which is retained by the organization. This arrangement was negotiated by PATAMABA leaders who met with Red Cross representatives in the area.