A big group of 31 participants from six countries attended the study tour program on the Philippine microfinance sector organized by ADFIAP’s Asia-Pacific Institute of Development Finance (IDF) held in Manila and environs from July 21 to 25, 2008. Participants from Bhutan, Malaysia, Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines had the opportunity to learn more about the country’s microfinance infrastructure from the regulatory, operational (both wholesale and retail) and support standpoints.

As a study tour program, the participants were exposed to best practice briefings by microfinance experts and practitioners, insitutional visits as well as “on the spot” familiarization trips. Among the institutions visited were the Asian Development Bank, the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) Center, the National Credit Council, the Central Bank of the Philippines, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the People’s Credit and Finance Corporation, Planters Development Bank and the Ahon sa Hirap, Inc. an microfinance institution in the outskirts of Manila.

This is the fourth microfinance study tour program conducted by the IDF, the third in the Philippines and another one in Cambodia.