Mr. Napoleon Micu from the National Credit Council- Department of Finance speaks about the national policy framework of microfinance in the Philippines (Jan 29, PACAP Community Development Forum - Microfinance Amidst the Global Financial Crisis)

1. Microfinance Policyin the Philippines A DOF-NCC Presentation to the Microfinance Development Forum Sponsored by PACAP-AusAID January 29, 2009 Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila Ortigas, Pasig City

2. 2 PRESENTATION OUTLINE Situation before -- Old policy regime What we have done(Government’s Response) Microfinance Industry Today What we have learned The challenges ahead

3. 3 OLD REGIME Attempts to address the problem: 1970s-mid 1990s -- Creation of government directed credit programs (DCPs) Features: Funding from budgetary allocation, special funds, foreign borrowings Funds given at highly concessional rates Funds provided through specialized banks Government line agencies also implementing DCPs

4. 4 OLD REGIME WHAT HAPPENED THEN Very low outreach implemented by GNFAs compared to those implemented by GFIs Low repayment rates in DCPs (Undisciplined borrowers with “dole-out mentality”) Large scale borrowers captured the subsidies Huge fiscal costs Private financial institutions dependent on cheap government funds, leaving out savings mobilization

5. 5 WHAT WE HAVE DONE Initiatives to rationalize and optimize the use of government credit programs through Social Pact on Credit The Pact became part of the Social Reform Agenda Institutional champion—the National Credit Council – created to lead the reform process.

6. 6 WHAT WE HAVE DONE THE NATIONAL CREDIT COUNCIL created in 1993 through Administrative Order No. 86 to meet the need to rationalize credit policy Chaired by the Department of Finance (DOF), with Landbank of the Philippines as Vice-Chair Member agencies: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Cooperative Development Authority Agricultural Credit Policy Council Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation People’s Credit and Finance Corporation Bureau of Rural Workers-DOLE Social Security System Small Business and Guarantee Finance Corporation Development Bank of the Philippines

7. 7 WHAT WE HAVE DONE THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR MICROFINANCE (1997) A new paradigm to develop the country’s microfinance market VISION is to (1) achieve a viable, sustainable, strong private microfinance market and (2) provide poor households and microentrepreneurs greater access to microfinance services

8. 8 WHAT WE HAVE DONE THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR MICROFINANCE Four policy principles: Provision of an enabling policy environment to facilitate increased participation of the private sector Adoption of market-oriented financial and credit policies Non-participation of government line agencies in the implementation of credit and guarantee programs Greater role of the private sector in the delivery of financial services to the poor

9. 9 WHAT WE HAVE DONE THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR MICROFINANCE National Strategy for Microfinance embodies new paradigm From government-led to private sector-driven. Government to only provide the enabling policy and regulatory environment From directed, subsidized credit to market-based approach (market-oriented interest rates) Donors primarily as providers of technical assistance e.g. capacity building

10. 10 WHAT WE HAVE DONE ENABLING LAWS Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (December 11,1997) Adopt a market based interest rate policy for microfinance Government funds used only for capacity building purposes Emphasis on savings mobilization Established the People’s Credit and Finance Corporation, the forerunner of microfinance services through wholesale lending Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) –December 22, 1997 Phase out of DCPs in the agriculture sector Adoption of market-based interest rates Non-provision of credit subsidies Government financial institutions (GFIs) acting as wholesalers of funds

12. government financial institutions to be the main vehicle in the implementation of government credit programs

14. 13 WHAT WE HAVE DONE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR MICROFINANCE A regulatory framework to develop a viable and sustainable microfinance market Deposit-taking institutions are subject to prudential regulation and supervision Banks engaged in microfinance are regulated and supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as designated regulatory authority for credit cooperatives Deposit-taking microfinance NGOs encouraged to transform into banks or cooperatives and be regulated Microinsurance is under jurisdiction of the Insurance Commission (IC)

17. 16 WHAT WE HAVE DONE AT A GLANCE… Consolidation of agricultural DCPs into one fund (AMCFP) Transfer of management of AMCFP and non-agricultural DCP funds to government financial institutions (GFIs) GFIs provide wholesale credit funds to MFIs to avoid competition and crowding-out Government focus on capacity building assistance to MFIs and clients Capacity building assistance excludes seed funding, equity infusion and partnership

18. 17 WHAT WE HAVE DONE AT A GLANCE… Agreement among key stakeholders to adopt the Performance Standards for MFIs Emphasis on savings mobilization Emphasis on operational and financial self-sufficiency Use of sustainable community-based private MFIs in the delivery of microfinance services Use of the household’s cash flow as basis in the design of microfinance products Strengthening of the credit cooperative sector Published Microfinance Consumer Protection Guidebook Issued Guide for MFIs on Business Development Services

19. 18 MICROFINANCE TODAY STATUS OF THE INDUSTRY The Philippines is recognized worldwide as one of the leaders in the development of the microfinance industry. First in Asia-Pacific to adopt microfinance in its central banking system Declared by CGAP as the best in implementing microfinance programs to reduce poverty – International Year of Microcredit 2005 New York City In 1997, there were only a few large MFIs with an outreach of less than half a million clients. Latest figures show that after ten (10) years, the number of MFIs have reached over 1400. Including branches, this has swelled to over 2,000. From a few hundreds of thousands in 1997, outreach has reached 5.2 million as of September 2008. Large commercial banks have entered the market by providing wholesale funds to retail MFIs

20. 19 MICROFINANCE TODAY KEY STAKEHOLDERS

21. 20 WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED Strong private sector collaboration from the onset is imperative to push for critical reforms Capacity building assistance is more important for MFIs than government subsidized credit funds Less direct government intervention in credit delivery enhances competition, lowers interest rates and promotes greater access of the poor to microfinance services Setting standards builds and develops strong, viable and sustainable MFIs

22. 21 THE PHILIPPINES’ PERVASIVE POLICY STRATEGY To provide the poor greater access to financial services, government should provide the appropriate and enabling policy environment to strengthen the private sector in the delivery of microfinance services to the poor.

23. 22 THE CHALLENGES AHEAD Institutionalization of microinsurance coverage for microfinance clients Development of creative and innovative loan products and assessment techniques for microfinance clients graduating to small enterprises Development of credit information system (note:recently passed)

24. 23 Contact Information Mr. Joselito S. Almario, Deputy Executive Director, NCC Mr. Napoleon P. Micu, Sr. Project Specialist, NCC 4th Floor, Fiscal Policy and Planning Office Department of Finance DOF Building, BSP Complex Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines Emails: itoy@dof.gov.ph ; NMicu@dof.gov.ph Telefax: 632-523-3825 http://www.dof.gov.ph http://ncc.dof.gov.ph

25. Maraming salamat po 