RAFI Micro-finance, Inc. (RAFI MFI) partnered with Pilmico & Gold Coin Group (Pilmico), to champion sustainable livelihood and backyard farming entrepreneurship opportunities which aim to boost the agribusiness industry. The partnership was officially launched through a Memorandum of Agreement signing on October 29, 2021, Friday, between Tristan Aboitiz, President & CEO of Pilmico Foods Corporation – Philippines and Jonar Dorado, Chief Operating Officer of RAFI Micro-Finance Inc. (RAFI MFI).
The program will provide low-income Filipinos with alternative livelihood opportunities such as backyard farming, and in bakery and agri-posts businesses. This is expected to support the recovery and resiliency programs for the chosen communities.
“Our mission of elevating the lives of our clients has become important more than ever. We believe we can do more in our client business development and marketing assistance to selected business segments our members are engaged in. With the programs in place, not only will RAFI MFI empower and retain loyal clients, RAFI MFI will also be able to create a new channel for client leads through Pilmico clients and beneficiaries”, says Dorado pertaining to the partnership. “With the RAFI MFI-Pilmico partnership, RAFI MFI will get closer to achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of lowering poverty”.
The partnership program kicks off with the turn over of livelihood kits including a gilt package, egg machines or bakery starter kits to beneficiaries through Pimico’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. The barangay agri-post reseller program intends to provide their clients with the opportunity to become resellers of Pilmico products as well as gain access to financial bridging services to enhance the sustainability of Pilmico’s CSR livelihood programs.
“True to the Aboitiz purpose of advancing business and communities, we have always put partnering with our stakeholders to ensure the growth of their businesses at the center of how we do what we do,” said Aboitiz. “ By partnering with the Aboitiz Foundation and the RAFI MFI team, I believe that we have set ourselves up to be more successful at helping our stakeholders realize their hopes,” he added.
As for RAFI MFI, the partnership will give more agro-entrepreneurs access to its financial services which include loans for micro- and small entrepreneurs, non-financial services such as seminars in husbandry and nutrition, basic or advanced baking and cooking demonstrations led by a team of experts from Pilmico, and the ‘Tindahan ni Nanay,’ which is RAFI MFI’s online store where micro entrepreneur clients can post and sell their products, among others.
More information can be found at the organization’s official Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/rafimicrofinance/
About RAFI Micro-Finance Inc.
The Microfinance Program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI-MFI) provides financial and non-financial services to micro-entrepreneurs with a mission of elevating lives of the vulnerable and disadvantaged communities through stable and rewarding livelihood.
Know more about RAFI by visiting https://www.rafi.org.ph/.
