RAFI Micro-finance, Inc. (RAFI MFI) has partnered with Pilmico & Gold Coin Group (Pilmico), to champion sustainable livelihood and backyard farming entrepreneurship opportunities which aims 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 of 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 turning 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 is intended to provide their clients 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.
“In every program or project we decide to take part in, we keep in mind the Aboitiz brand promise of advancing business and communities, and we couldn’t be more excited and proud to partner with RAFI MFI to execute this program to advance the lives of our fellow Filipinos in agribusiness,” said Aboitiz. “We promote long-term solutions by equipping them with livelihood kits and technical skills needed to create a sustainable living for themselves and for their families,” 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 demos led by a team of experts in 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/