RMDC organized an exposure visit program to Microfinance Institutions to the Philippines, from May 24 to 30, 2015, for the top officials of its partner MFIs. The purpose of the visit program was to observe and get acquainted with the ongoing practices of microfinance in the Philippines. The visit program was designed and coordinated by Ms Annapurna Shrestha, Manager of Social and Institutional Development Department from RMDC side and was facilitated by Microfinance Council of the Philippines (MCPI), a networking organization of the MFIs in the Philippines.

The team of nine officials, comprised of Chairmen and CEOs. The team was led by the Chief Executive Officer of RMDC Mr. Jyoti Chandra Ojha. It included Dr. Bhesh Prasad Dhamala, Chairman of Nerude Laghubitta Bikas Bank Ltd. Morang, Mr. Lila Nath Shrestha, Chairman of Srijana Community Dev Centre, Siraha, Mr. Chandi Prasad Sharma and Mr. Dhurba Poudel Chairman and Board member of CYC, Baglung respectively, Mr. Padma Bandhu Pokharel, Chairman of Unnati Savings and credit Cooerative Ltd. of Kaski, Mr. Purna Bahadur Chand and Mr. Ganesh Bahadur Chand, Chairman and CEO of Udayadev Savings and Credit Cooperative Ltd., Kanchanpur respectively and one senior officer of RMDC Mr. Basu Dev Lamichhane.

The team landed in the Philippines on 25th of June and was firstly briefed by MCPI officials, on the socio-economic status and the microfinance scenario and the activities and programs of MCPI in the Philippines. On the second day the team had the opportunity to visit Central Bank of the Phillippines (BSP) and dialogue with its senior officials on the Central Bank role, regulation and the supervision of microfinance sector in the Phillippines.

The team visited CARD Bank Inc. which is the leading MFI in the Philippines. The CARD Bank Inc. has arranged a visit to Laguna Bay branch and its clients. The participants visited TSPI at Makati in Manila which is one of the prominent MFIs in the Philippines and also visited another MFI ASHI, a Grameen bank replicator. The team also visited PCFC a microfinance wholesale lending in the Philippines.

At the end of the visit there was a review meeting at the MCPI office in the presence of CEO Mr. Allan Sicat. All the participants shared their learning and experiences. After the successful completion of the visit, the team departed on 30th of May, for Kathmandu. The participants expressed their happiness and satisfaction on the excellent arrangements of the program. They also appreciated the Philipines MFIs SME financing and mobile banking for their clients.

The Participants shared their learning about member targeting, MIS, policies and regulatory arrangement adopted by the Central Bank. They acclaimed the learning approaches adopted by MCPI and support provided by other participating institutions in the Philippines such as CARD, TSPI, ASHI, PCFC and MCPI for making the exposure visit fruitful and memorable.