Gov’t to replicate QC livelihood program

A P16-million livelihood support program being implemented by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and the National Livelihood Support Fund (NLSF) has been declared as model for the national government’s nationwide microfinancing program, a top NLSF official said yesterday.

Antonio Ortiz, NLSF executive director and CEO said the Puhunang Pangkaunlaran Sikap Buhay program which has proven to be successful in Quezon City will soon be replicated all over the country.

"We have a 98 to 100 percent loan repayment in Quezon City and we intend to replicate this model in key areas in the country," Ortiz told The STAR in an interview.

He said Sikap Buhay, a joint microfinancing program launched by the NLSF and the Quezon City government in February 2002, has disbursed over P16 million to borrowers in 31 barangays in the four districts of the city.

Ortiz said as part of the effort to replicate the program, they recently invited the Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacan (CRBBI) and the Euro Credit Cooperative to serve as conduits for Quezon City.

He said the special tie-up is a model collaboration among three partners: CRBBI and Eurocredit extend professional finance services to poor Quezon City residents and transfer microfinance technology; the NLSF provides loans and the city government galvanizes community support through its social preparation activities.

Ortiz said he has already submitted to Belmonte an update on the livelihood project, which has as of July 31 already mobilized P1.3 million through compulsory and voluntary savings.

The NLSF official said they are now bringing the livelihood program to the barangay level and targets 18,000 beneficiaries for Quezon City by the end of the year.

Sikap Buhay, which is among the priority programs being implemented by Belmonte, has already served a total of 2,391 beneficiaries in 31 barangays of the city.

The program has directly benefited poor communities, who now receive more than just the "trickle down" effects of development.

One of the case studies shows how Sikap Buhay dramatically changed the life of Lydia Pineda. She used to earn 1,000 a week as laundrywoman but is now a businesswoman earning P20,000 a month. She has been able to finance the repair of her house, purchase appliances and still have savings for the future.