MikeLigalig.com

by PNA

President Benigno S. Aquino III cited Bicol University for being a proponent of microfinance by teaching its students the rudiments of being entrepreneurs through their degree course in business administration.

The President offered his citation in his speech keynoting the conferment of a Doctor of Humanities degree, Honoris Causa by Bicol University on his late mother former President Corazon C. Aquino in Malacañang on Tuesday.

“…natutuwa akong malaman na patuloy na pinapayabong ng Bicol University ang microfinance institutions sa bansa,” the President said.

“Mataas ang aking kompiyansang ang mga produkto ng inyong kursong Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), Major in Microfinance ay magtitindig ng mas matibay pang pundasyon upang mas marami pang Pilipino ang mahikayat na mamuhunan sa ating bansa, gamit ang ating likas na pagkamalikhain, sipag, at talino,” he added.

The President said that his mother advocated microfinance and entrepreneurship as a potent strategy to help Filipinos rise above their hardships and improve their lives.

“Si Mom na rin nga po ang nagsabi: 'The Philippines takes pride in having popularized the term people power, and it has been my dream to harness this force to eradicate poverty in my country.' People power, mismo ang inspirasyon ng aking ina nang binuo niya ang PinoyME, na maituturing na salbabida para iligtas ang mga kababayan nating naghihikahos sa kahirapan,” the President said.

“Sa pamamagitan ng microfinance at micro-entrepreneurship, ang mga dating napag-iiwanan at nakakalimutan sa laylayan ng lipunan ay nabigyan ng oportunidad na umasenso gamit ang sarili nilang abilidad at pagsusumikap,” he added.

The Bicol University pioneered the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Microfinance as a result of public and private partnership with the PinoyME (Pinoy Micro-Enterprise) Foundation, the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, and the Hanns Seidel Foundation, who together developed a model curriculum that would support human resource development for the sector, as well as initiate researches that would further improve policy and action.

This same curriculum is now being implemented by selected private higher education institutions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao with the graduates of the said program assured of scholarships as well as employment by the partner microfinance institution.

PinoyME was founded by former President Corazon C. Aquino to serve as a vehicle in popularizing microfinance as one of the tools to promote self-reliance.

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