PinoyME successfully organized the Local Program Committees (LPCs) for Central Luzon and Southern Mindanao during the Partners’ Forum held in Cabanatuan City and Davao City last July 26 and July 29, 2011, respectively. In consonance with the recommendations of the program partners of PinoyME, each LPC will serve as the local coordinating structure for the effective implementation of the Dual Training System Competency-based Education (DTS CBE) for Microfinance. Further to that, the LPCs will take the lead in fostering a closer partnership between the industry and academe leading towards sustainable human resource development for microfinance.

Both LPCs deliberated the issues and constraints affecting program implementation, as well as identified key action points including, among others, proactive marketing efforts such as the conduct of career fora for graduating high school students in order to increase their awareness and appreciation of career options in microfinance. Likewise, the LPCs will undertake concrete steps leading towards the creation of stronger partnerships between the microfinance institutions (MFIs) and the participating schools in the implementation of DTS CBE. The MFI-school partnerships will address the increase in the demand for in-company training of trainees as well as timely job placement of graduates.

In order to sustain the program gains, the LPCs will also initiate actions leading to the integration of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) competency-based curriculum into the ladderized four-year degree program of the universities under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The LPCs envision that with the two educational tracks institutionalized in both the MFIs and schools, the development of human resource for the microfinance sector will be sustained.

The LPC for Central Luzon is headed by Mr. Rey Rivera of GM Bank. The members are Ms. Emma Ocampo of Araullo University, Ms. Mary Jane Macapagal of Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc.-Skills and Training Institute (ASKI-SKI), Ms. Mina Santos of College of Immaculate Concepcion, Ms. Reneli Ann Gloria of Village Foundation, and Ms. Manucdoc of ASKI-Microfinance. The LPC for Southern Mindanao is headed by Mr. Djan Capinpin of the Mindanao Microfinance Council. The members are Ms. Gemma Sudaria of Brokenshire College, Mr. Roger Cuenca of Green valley College, Ms. Reign Costes of Kamayo Mindanao Foundation, and Mr. Nelson Capinpin of Enterprise Bank.