2007 Accomplishment Highlights

The year 2007 was a bright year for Hagdan sa Pag-uswag Foundation, Inc. (HSPFI).  Its microfinance program was strengthened, and so was its Community Development Program.

HSPFI’s micro-insurance program was tied up with the UCPB Gen and Cooplife and this has made it more competitive. The organization has been able to provide insurance to its clients at a minimal annual premium.

Under its Community Development Program, HSPFI continued with its medical missions in the Gingoog and Iligan areas. It was also involved in the nutrition and feeding program of malnourished school children in Barangay Dalipuga.  In partnership with the Department of Agriculture of the LGU of Iligan, the ComDev Program came up with a papaya plantation through an association of farmers and marginalized groups in Dalipuga, Iligan City.

This project opened up an opportunity for women as they worked to turn rejected or over-ripe papayas into organic fertilizers and organic pesticides through technology provided by the DA-LGU Iligan.

HSPFI’s micro-finance program remains successful and in August 2007, the Foundation underwent an international accreditation process.  HSPFI is now, proudly, an internationally accredited lender.

The year 2007 saw another milestone in the Community Development Program of the Foundation. The first five years of this program, which began in the Gingoog and Iligan branches are about to end and consolidation is in process. In the middle of 2007, another project was opened in Kiabo, Malitbog, Bukidnon which focused on the indigenous peoples.  Before the year ended, another area focusing on the IPs was also prepared in Samay, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. These two communities wholeheartedly accepted the projects after consultations with the “lumads”- the Higaonons.  An integrated farming project (with a demo farm) will soon be implemented in Kiabo, Malitbog, Bukidnon using sustainable organic farming technology.

HSPFI is currently institutionalizing its Community Development Program. Within the next five years, microfinance and community development will be integrated. This is a huge task for the organization. As early as now, trainings and orientations have been conducted to start shifting the paradigm of the staff from a microfinance focused attitude to a community-oriented microfinance program.