ADFIAP Secretary General Champions Rural Banking Reform at Central Luzon Gathering
Angeles City, Philippines, September 15, 2025 — The Confederation of Central Luzon Rural Banks hosted a landmark gathering of owners and senior officers from 58 rural banks across Region 3, where ADFIAP Secretary General Mr. Enrique Florencio delivered a keynote address that galvanized support for rural banking reform and reaffirmed its central role in inclusive development.
Held in the heart of Central Luzon, the event brought together financial leaders from seven provinces to discuss the future of rural banking amid regulatory shifts, digital transformation, and climate challenges. In his keynote, Mr. Florencio positioned rural banks not as peripheral players, but as “development actors” vital to the economic resilience of local communities.
Drawing from ADFIAP’s strategic pillars—Institutional Readiness, Capacity Building, and Innovation for Impact—Mr. Florencio emphasized the importance of reform as a bridge to relevance, not a burden. He cited compelling sector statistics, including rural banks’ 18% allocation of loan portfolios to agriculture and their outsized role in financing MSMEs, especially in underserved areas.
The keynote also spotlighted Region 3 as a model for inclusive finance, with rural banks serving millions across Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, and Aurora. Mr. Florencio reaffirmed ADFIAP’s commitment to supporting rural banks through ESG integration, digital onboarding pilots, and tailored capacity-building programs.
In a stirring conclusion, the Secretary General invoked the story of David and Goliath, likening rural banks to the shepherd who triumphed not through size, but through courage and clarity. The event culminated with Mr. Florencio leading the formal induction of the new set of officers of the Confederation of Central Luzon Rural Banks for Fiscal Year 2025–2026. Ms. Jubailene B. Bulawit, Director of the New Rural Bank of San Leonardo, Inc., was officially inducted as CCLRB President, ushering in a new chapter of leadership and collaboration for the region’s rural banking sector.