Provincial Microfinance Unit-Livelihood For Economic recovery And Acceleration Program (PMU-LEAP) in the Province of Misamis Oriental

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Ambisyon Natin 2040  is the nation’s long- term vision that foresee the Philippines as a prosperous, predominantly middle class society, where no one is considered poor and its people shall live long and healthy lives, be smart and innovative in a high trust society. Taking cue on this, the Northern Mindanao Regional Development Frame work Plan 2017 to 2022 yearns to realize a strong local economy that could compete not only in the local market but in the global arena. Misamis Oriental as a keyplayer of this directive and an agro- industrialized province aspires to meet the country’s AMBISYON.

Given that in section 294 of the Local Government Code which states that “the proceeds from the share of LGU’s shall be appropriated by their respective Sannggunian to finance local development and livelihood projects. There is also a Republic Act 9501: Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises which promotes entrepreneurship by strengthening development and assistance programs to micro, small and medium scale enterprises, amending for the purpose republic act no. 6977, as amended, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta For Small Enterprises” and for other purposes.

Even so with rich resources, Misamis Oriental’s poverty incidence of the province in 2021 raised to 18% or roughly a population of 18,000 out of almost a million registered Misamisnons are considered poor and marginalized. The three basic sectors identified as the poorest of the poor sector are fisherfolks, farmers, and indigenous peoples. The current administration under the banner of Governor Peter M. Unabia acquiese to its PAGLAUM Strategic Directions that package its governance and management through Participatory Governance, Agriculture Development and Poverty Eradication, Goal Oriented tourism, Livelihood and Employment through Industry Development, Aggressive Programs for the Youth Welfare, Unified efforts for health and social service, and Mobilization of resources through equitable sharing.

As a successful entrepreneur in the country and he had his share of story about inaccessibility to finance and startup capital, ________. The intertwining play of the PAGLAUM propelled this administration to create the Provincial Microfinance Unit and bore the LEAP to assist the MSMEs, Cooperatives and CBOs to have access to finance and market as this program utilizes market- driven and consumer- oriented approaches. This leap of endeavor prepares the Misamisnons to be financially- literate, socially- prepared, and entreprenurially- engaged to relieve them from poverty. The LEAP of PMU intends to syndicate all institutions to create a favorable and robust business atmosphere that would hopefully increase the value chain development of agriculture, food industry, and logistics. Thus reduce the poverty incidence of the province by 15-20% in the year 2030.