Intl charity org taps Smart for financial inclusion efforts in Iloilo

The USAID-funded International Care Ministries Foundation, Inc. (ICMFI), which designs livelihood programs for families in need, recently partnered with PLDT mobile unit Smart Communications for its financial inclusion efforts for a beneficiary community in Iloilo.

Smart provided the Pototan community with Smart Money accounts which members can use to pool the savings from their livelihood earnings into a revolving fund. This gives security to the beneficiaries, who used to physically transfer money and hide their funds underground.

Aside from providing mobile money accounts, Smart will also conduct financial literacy sessions to teach the beneficiaries how to use Smart Money for basic savings, loan disbursements, and collection of payments.

The first photo shows Smart public affairs manager Jill Lava (left) with partners led by ICMFI Global CEO David Sutherland (fourth from left), USAID mission director Dr. Susan Brems (center), and barangay captain Milagros Dagandasa (second from right).