SEED. (Social Enhancement for Entrepreneurial Development) Center Philippines, Inc

CENTER PHILIPPINES, INC.

The team in Sept. 2005

Country of intervention : Philippines

City(s) : Cavite

Date of start-up of activities (month/year) : September, 2005

Date of institutional constitution (month/year) : June 17, 2005

Juridical status : NGO

Address : Door #2 Penalosa Apartment Balsahan, Binakayan Kawit Cavite

Tel. : (046) 434-1316

Fax : (046) 434-1316

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Internet Website :

Manager (director) : Arceli L. Duron

Key figures :

Number and nature of the programs¹ / activities : loans, savings, training. SEED comprises of 3 branches as of now.

Teams and number of field workers : 8 program officers

Teams on HO : Program Director, Finance & Admin Manager, FA Asst., Social Coordinator and Operation Assistant

Total provisional budget 2006 (please mention the currency) : Php 3,346,400 (i.e. 49.300 €) for operating expenses and investments only.

Total number of direct beneficiaries per year :

Outreach in the loans activity is 379 at end September 2006; there are also 883 savers in the program.

Sources of private and public subventions : Private donors, mostly via EDM

Historical of the creation

The Social Enhancement for Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) Center Philippines, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit, non-government organization which was organized last December, 2004 by concerned Filipinos who are experienced in a micro-finance institutions. It was registered with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last June 17, 2005 which main objective is to uplift the living condition of the urban poor micro-entrepreneurs through saving mobilization, loan assistance and other services they need (like training, …)

Objective/mission :

l VISION: A self-reliant SEED network which could develop micro-entrepreneurs in their socio-economic development motivated with moral and social values and living in depressed areas

l MISSION: We commit ourselves in developing micro-entrepreneurs to enhance their knowledge and skills, assist them on their business activities and provide trainings for the improvement of their economic and social status and living in depressed areas

Action’s principles :

SEED Center Phils., Inc. is implementing on a front office collection system. There are 3 staff per branch : The Branch Manager, and 2 Program officers. We are implementing on a savings first scheme (at least three {3} consecutive weeks) before a partner can apply for a loan. We just allow field collection in case the partner is on past due.

Programs :

SEED already has 3 branches as of today; the activities implemented are loans, savings and training.

Loans

There are 2 loan products: EPL (Entre Pinoy loans) as the core activity, and MEPL (Micro Entre Pinoy loans) for partners with a higher level of activity (loans size > 20.000 PhP) – this loan product must remain at less than 20% of the outstanding portfolio, to ensure that SEED gives priority to its target population.

Savings

Savings mobilization is an important part of the activity in SEED. All partners are required to go through prior savings before availing a loan, and partners can join the program to be savers-only.

Training

SEED aims to develop further training programs – skills training (for which the partner is asked to contribute 50 PhP training fees), product development training, Business management training…

SEED will also develop micro insurance and a referral scheme to other NGO’s for partners that would need this.

Target groups and beneficiaries :

At present we already have a total of 930 partners, but with an active loaners of 279 only. For the Entre-Pinoy Loan 278 and 1 for Micro Entre-Pinoy Loan.

Operational Partners :

We are catering the urban poor communities in Cavite. Since Cavite is near coastal areas and most of our partners are living near the sea. They are engaged in fishing, fish and sea foods vending. Other partners augment family income through buy and sell business (like RTW, sari-sari store, vegetable vending, carinderia, etc.), service business ( like transportation, beauty culture, etc.).

Financing / Budget :

Total provisional budget 2006: PhP 3.346.400 (investments and operating expenses on the field).

Proposed financing:

Revenue from the activity amounts to 549.731 PhP

The rest will be covered by various grants – mostly from private donors.