BY JENNIFER C. TILOS
NEGROS
ORIENTAL, June 16 (PIA) -- The CARD-Mutually Reinforcing
Institutions (CARD-MRI) a social development organization, developed an
educational module on ASEAN Integration for its more than 2.8 million members
to be included in its weekly Credit with Education (CwE) sessions in
preparation for the ASEAN economic integration set this year.
CARD MRI founder and
managing director Dr. Aris Alip said, the sessions will ready its the
clients for the ASEAN Economic Community and how they can be a significant part
of this integration.
“The arrival of big
companies from the ASEAN region is a welcome development as it will bring more
efficiency and better services to the clients. This means there will be
healthy competition," Alip said.
According to Alip
we must be prepared because the ASEAN integration may also lead to credit
pollution, staff and client poaching in our country, which will be
challenging to social development organizations such as CARD MRI.
"Now that the
integration is coming, we want CARD MRI to be prepared for this,” Dr. Alip
said.
Higher percentage of
CARD’s membership is in the agriculture sector and some are in the small and
medium enterprises or SME. These sectors, according to analysts will be
some of the most affectedby the integration.
According to Alip,
CARD MRI will continue to be relevant by reinventing itself and providing
appropriate trainings.
CARD-MRI Development
Institute, the training institution of CARD MRI has developed a
module composed of four sessions that will be discussed every week in a
center meeting.
Training of trainers
were also conducted for the field staff of CARD. In April this year, the CwE
for ASEAN Integration already started, which is expected to end by May or June.
These trainings are
also relevant to the clients as we prepare them for the ASEAN Economic
Integration. We can assist them in developing and making products
more competitive, Alip added.
According to Nanay
Francisca Fatima Baisa, one of CARD’s center chief in Siquijor, the session
was very relevant to her and the community as a whole.
“I learned that if our
products are not of quality, it will not survive in the market. Though I am
only selling breads near schools, I am also affected by this integration,”
Nanay Francisca added.
Nanay Francisca is
also happy to hear that CARD will again set series of trainings for further
enhancement of their businesses. (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)