In order to accomplish these objectives, MMC shall focus on three primary strategies:
Strong institutions and people make effective catalysts for change and development in the rural areas. It is primary to MMCs strategy to strengthen its members and develop their capacity to enable them to become more effective catalysts of development in Mindanao.
With the numerous agencies all working towards one goal, coordination and cooperation is important in order to optimize limited resources and utilize these resources more effectively.
MMC will lead the way in coordinating efforts in providing assistance to the microfinance sector of Mindanao.
MMC does not seek to impose itself on its members and to the various stakeholders in the microfinance industry, but instead it seeks to facilitate dialogue and participation among them.
MMC shall be member and client-driven and shall follow a participatory framework in developing programs and projects to ensure that these are the most relevant to address the needs of the poor.
MMC shall also seek and help involve other sectors to aid in developing microfinance practice in the Philippines. Part of its strategic agenda is to work together with the academic and business sectors most especially in Mindanao.
MMC shall strive to broaden its network of partners and affiliates in the local, national and international levels. MMC shall uphold its dictum that by working – “Together, we can end poverty in Mindanao”
MMC shall focus its programs in five thematic areas or what it calls FRAME-work MMC shall focus its efforts in these five themes of which its members are highly involved:
1. Financial and Entrepreneurship Education
Financial literacy and developing household financial management skills is important with the growing sophistication in financial needs of microfinance clients. With the growing number of financial services and financial service providers servicing the needs of the poor sectors, financial management becomes a must and a skill that must be learned by microfinance clients, especially in the rural areas.
Entrepreneurship is also an important skill that must be developed especially among poor women. Opportunities are created by learning how to manage one’s business and resources better to create wealth for the family and help in sustaining the family’s economic growth.
2. Rural Communities Development
MMC members are mostly servicing rural communities. Their presence in rural areas and being major financial services institutions in Mindanao, MMC members contribute greatly in spurring economic development in the countryside.
A significant number of MMC member institutions are now providing services beyond credit and finance. Knowing that more have to be done, MMC members have begun undertaking direct community projects that provide non-financial support to their clients and to the local communities they serve. Projects, such as rural electrification, housing, health, market intermediation and business development services and even education and training support are being undertaken by MMC members and providing these added services to their clients.
3. Agriculture Microfinance
Rural communities are highly dependent on agriculture. The rural economy is largely influenced by the performance of the agriculture (and fisheries) sector.
MMC members see that support should be given to the small farmers that make up the sector and help them become more productive. Support for the agri-fisheries sector is needed also to ensure steady production of food that supports the greater part of the Philippine economy.
MFIs plays an important role in ensuring food sufficiency and greater farm productivity. By providing microfinance services, developing more efficient and effective systems that support delivery of financial services, and by providing all the other non-financial support provided by MFIs to their clients will help improve the agricultural and fisheries sector.
4. Microfinance in Frontier Areas
Mindanao is seen as one of the poorest places in Asia as the poorest provinces in the Philippines are mostly on the island. Mindanao has also been battered by armed conflict for decades and development in some areas has been slow.
Mindanao MFIs play a very special role. Being one with the people in the island, Mindanao MFIs are more determined in bringing progress into the island and help reduce poverty in Mindanao.
There are still many towns and barangays that have not been reached by microfinance services. These areas are mostly in upland communities, interior barangays, hard-to-reach areas, and conflict stricken communities.
Microfinance can help bring opportunities for people in these communities by providing them opportunities to engage in income generating activities or expand their existing projects. Mindanao MFIs can provide these services into these communities given the additional support to bring programs to frontier areas.
5. Environment and Ecological Protection
MMC and its members also see the importance of promoting environment and ecological protection and to champion the cause for the environment. Economic and social gains will be lost if people do not take care of the environment in which we all live.
MFIs can be agents of change in a period where the world is entering into dangerous conditions caused by global warming. MMC members will help promote environment protection as problems in this area will eventually affect everyone with the poor at the helm of those that will be most affected.
MMC shall assist its members by organizing projects and activities and mobilizing resources that will support these five thematic programs. MMC and its members see that these five program areas will help support the growth of the microfinance sector, sustain the gains that have been made by members in alleviating the poor from poverty and support the further expansion of microfinance services.
By focusing on these five themes/programs, greater impact can be achieved in reducing poverty in Mindanao. MMC believes that a progressive Mindanao will eventually translate to a more progressive Philippines.