Quezon City government wins award for anti-poverty efforts

The Quezon City government has been vested with the COOP-LGU partnership award for excellence for initiating anti-poverty programs and empowering city residents to become entrepreneurs in their respective barangays.

The award, which also carries a P250,000 cash reward, was jointly given by the Senate, University of the Philippines, Union of Local Authorities, Globe Telecom and other government and nongovernment agencies advocating cooperative promotions in the local government units.

Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, Councilor Philip Juico and La Rainne Abad Sarmiento, presented the glass trophy to Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. during yesterday’s flag ceremony.

The partnership of the city government with cooperatives is highlighted in the implementation of the Puhunang Pangkabuhayan Sikap Buhay, a collateral-free loan program for small entrepreneurs, mostly housewives seeking to augment the meager family income.

From a shaky start with only 248 borrowers in 2002 and an initial P1.4-million in lending capital, Sikap Buhay has grown by leaps and bounds and has provided the capital needs of some 16,800 micro entrepreneurs totaling P212 million.

Aside from providing collateral free loans, loan program also provides livelihood training to member beneficiaries.

Most of the loans were sourced from the Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacan (CRBB), the Novaliches Cooperative Inc. Euro Credie and ASA foundation. – Perseus Echeminada