ADFIAP’s Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF), the training and career development center of the Association, welcomed the 3rd batch of participants for a study tour program in the Philippines from its member, the Regional Development Bank (RDB) of Sri Lanka. The group was composed of 40 officers and staff of RDB who, from July 11-13, 2018, visited and observed firsthand the activities, projects, and best practices of Philippine-based ADFIAP members and partner-organizations.

The delegates were cordially welcomed by Ms. Sandra Honrado, ADFIAP Executive for Programs, at its brief opening session. Subsequently, presentations on “Landbank’s Operations and Approaches in the Development of Agricultural Value Chain in the Philippines” and “Agroenterprise Development and Microfinance Complementation” were made by Mr. Edgardo de Guzman, Program Officer of the Landbank of the Philippines; and Ms. Gerryza Montero, Supervising Agrarian Reform Program Officer, Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development (BARBD), respectively.

For institutional and project visits, the delegates traveled to the province of Nueva Ecija in northern Philippines, to visit and observe SME/MSME farm and agribusiness projects assisted through value chain financing by the Philippine-based member “Alalay sa Kaunlaran” Inc; Landbank of the Philippines and Philippine Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). Among the projects visited were the “Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural Primary Multipurpose Cooperative” – a farmers cooperative that is strong in advocating and promoting hybrid rice production/milling using modern technologies, duck farm for salted egg and “balut”-making as well as production of dairy products using buffalo milk.

For more details about ADFIAP study tour program (STP), please email [email protected].