ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Bouncing back better: Strengthening local economies through financial inclusion

Bouncing back better: Strengthening local economies through financial inclusion

Published Aug 24, 2020 05:52 pm

#MINDANAO

John Tria John Tria

It is becoming clear that strong local economies are a buffer against disruptions. The lower infection rates in many regions, and the opening up of these local economies are where seeds of economic recovery are growing. Nurturing local economies will enable the country’s economy to bounce back.

As government redoubles efforts to ramp up economic recovery, programs to push greater financial inclusion will help build the resilience in local economies that will be necessary to deal with current and future disruptions.

More financial inclusion will build resilience

Getting more pinoys, especially in the rural areas on these will strengthen their participation and inclusion. The increased capability to  handle money will be vital as government rolls out “new thinking” agriculture programs under the Department of Agriculture that can further increase the 1.6% growth in the first half of the year, and deepen the impact and benefit of increased amounts made available for lending under new stimulus programs.

With this, the latest 300 million dollar Asian Development Bank Loan to boost reforms that will promote financial inclusion is welcome. This is on top of other loans to improve agricultural competitiveness. These reforms will be needed to get the poor, especially in the rural areas more on board formal financial systems, such as holding bank accounts that enable them to access small business loans and fintech products. Read more about it here: (https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/22/adb-commits-300-m-loan-for-financial-services/)

Many of the smaller rural banks and non-bank financial institutions, including credit cooperatives are our partners in the implementation of these vital programs. I look forward to the processes that can get more of these MSME oriented financial institutions bringing out more loan products that can assist this vital sector of our economy.

Likewise, it is in these Micro and small businesses, that constitute the bulk of all enterprises where majority of employees are engaged, that the recovery of our economy, and its resilience to face continuing and upcoming disruptions will take root to address the economic impacts on jobs and incomes.

It is in the rural areas such as the Visayas and Mindanao where improved financial inclusion will be felt most profoundly, as this will boost the capability of many residents to expand food production, that will lead to lower food prices for the country, and stronger rural livelihoods. Getting financing and improving logistics will also capitalize on the many new farm to market roads that were built over the last few years.

As a response to recovery, this creates a critical opportunity for more returning residents like OFWs and families making their way home away from congested cities like Metro Manila and Cebu.

Culturally, more financial inclusion also strengthens social cohesion, a necessary element that builds peace, development and unified action in addressing not only the health aspects of the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic, but the important recovery and resilience against future disruptions.

Archbishop Valles is back

Quite a number were elated to see that CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles back at saying masses for the public after some major health issues. His thoughtful homiles are admired and are frequently referenced for those seeking grounded spiritual guidance as they deal with the realities of the pandemic. May he continue to be in good health as he shepherds the Christian community in these times.

Continue to be vigilant, observe health protocols and stay safe everyone!

For reactions: facebook.com/johntriapage

Related Tags

John Tria
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.