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Over 800 staff coming from the different areas in the Visayas gathered together at SM Seaside City Cebu Skyhall Convention Center during the first general assembly of the Microfinance Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI-Microfinance) last January 27.

Ma. Theresa Catipay, executive director of RAFI-Microfinance, in her speech, congratulated everyone for hitting their targets last year, emphasizing the awards that the team received in 2017, such as the Most Outstanding Micro-Finance Institution, which was awarded by the Micro-Finance Council of the Philippines.

The general assembly was attended by staff coming from the different branches in Cebu, Bantayan, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Occidental, Biliran, Siquijor, Northern and Southern Leyte.

In early January, RAFI-Microfinance also received the awards, namely; the Most Collaborative, Brand Champion, and Most Consistently Outstanding Performance Award. For this year, she added, that they are aiming to target 230,000 clients, 1.3 billion loan portfolio, and 4 billion loan releases.

Service, Growth, and Moving Forward

“Firstly, all RAFI-Microfinance staff need to be mindful that the clients being served have families to support. Thus, the financial assistance and service RAFI-Microfinance bring to its clients are considered valuable and no less. Secondly, RAFI-Microfinance staff need to develop more empathy, relationship, and consideration of people’s feelings, especially to the clients being served to maintain not only client retention but also their connection to the organization,” RAFI President and Chief Operating Officer Dominica B. Chua said in her keynote message.

She also added that RAFI-Microfinance staff should maintain work and life balance despite having a kind of work filled with pressures, not to be complacent but to push towards progress.

“We in RAFI, together with the top management team, have RAFI-Microfinance as number one in our thoughts. We would like to see you grow and progress. We are here as part of the journey to your growth. We are here to guide so that all of you could someday become the light in this organization. I wish you the best because the best is yet to come,” she stressed.

Awards, Agora, and People’s Benefits

The diligence and hard work of the RAFI-Microfinance staff were also recognized during the assembly. Below are the awards given to the outstanding staff:

 The Most Outstanding Trust Staff of the Year — Jomar Mandawe of Daanbantayan Branch

 The Most Outstanding Support Staff —Charles M. Millan

 Rookie Trust Staff of the Year — James Buenafe of Bago Branch and Reuben Hugo of La Carlota Branch

 HoPE Giver Award—Ormoc 1 Branch

 Housing Improvement Champion —Ormoc 1 Branch

 Philhealth Product Champion —Compostela Branch

 Education Product Champion —San Fernando Branch

 Most Outstanding Branch —Daanbantayan

 Most Outstanding Branch Manager —Reynan Locaylocay of Daanbantayan Branch

 Rookie Branch Manager of the Year award — Lindy Montelibano of Bago Branch

 Most Outstanding Support Team —Business Development Unit

 Most Improved Team — Finance and Administration Unit

 Extra Mile Award — Joni Joy Dumasig

 Behind-the- scene award to Milky-Ubod and Innovation Award— Joni Joy Dumasig.

There was also the launching of the Agora, an online platform among RAFInians, and the staff benefits orientation among its new members.

Staff from the different branches also serenaded the event through its “Tawag ng Tanghalan” singing contest.

The Microfinance Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI-Microfinance) provides financial and non-financial services to micro-entrepreneurs with a mission of elevating lives of the vulnerable communities through stable and rewarding livelihood.