CABANATUAN CITY – Backed by a compulsion to empower the poor, the Alalay sa Kaunlaran Inc. (Aski) has evolved into this city’s most vigorous microenterprise development organization.
Aski started operations in a small rent-free room in 1987. Today, the microfinance provider, now housed in a three-story building here, oversees 38 branches in 11 provinces in central and northern Luzon.
It also operates a branch in Singapore for overseas Filipino workers.
Aski used to be run by two volunteer employees, who served five clients. Today, it has 650 workers serving more than 84,000 entrepreneurs who are also the group’s members.
Most of Aski’s clients are market vendors, farmers, women, the youth, and indigenous peoples in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Aurora, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya.
“We are glad the vision of five men and two women leaders who conceptualized [Aski] has been realized. [Aski] now has assets worth P1.2 billion,” says Rolando Victoria, Aski executive director.
Victoria is an accountant and a former banker. He was supervisor to a lone employee who served as all-around assistant and troubleshooter.
The office’s prized possessions then were a battered typewriter, a set of chairs, a table, an old electric fan, and a horizon that could be viewed from the window of the third floor room – which was all the inspiration they needed to carry out their tasks, Victoria says.
“It was post-1986 People Power revolution then, and social issues like poverty and unemployment were widely felt. Out of Christian zeal and compassion, the organization was put up to help turn around [societal ills] through microenterprises,” he explains.
According to Victoria, Aski’s founders were guided by the achievements of David Bussau, pioneer of microfinance systems and cofounder of “Opportunity International Australia” and “Opportunity International Network.”
Bussau believes in the “beauty of the poor” who, through their innate talents, can overcome their circumstances when they are given a helping hand.
Although Aski’s good intentions were there, it took some time for the organization to secure funds for their projects.
“Slowly, contributions came in. The first [donations came] from a doctor who gave us P2,000,” Victoria says.
The volunteers also spent time caroling during Christmas and mounting dinners-for-a-cause to raise funds.
“[Eventually], the Maranatha Trust of Australia owned by Bussau gave us P450,000. We started serving the street [entrepreneurs] and other movers of the microeconomy who have no access to bigger funding institutions,” Victoria says.
Potential clients underwent Bible sharing, and were given guidelines for managing a successful business. Small loans taken out by this sector no longer required collateral.
Aski’s first clients flourished and were able to pay their loans.
“[Their success and payments] started the ball rolling,” Victoria says.
In 1990, after a powerful quake devastated Luzon, Aski helped with the rehabilitation efforts, discharging funds to the marginalized to help them rise from the disaster.
Cooperative stores set up by Aski now sell food, handicraft and other goods produced by the group’s member-clientele.
“We are now looking forward to establishing convenience stores that are community-operated,” Victoria says.
Aski has also developed a micro-insurance service. Each week, members each contribute P30 for their individual insurance benefits.
Aski is also considering plans to develop a bank. The group and its member-clients find much pride in its social services program.
“We build hanging bridges, develop spring water systems, put up solar dryers, repair school buildings, and others. We see in [these programs] how good partnership with government and other entities works effectively for a common good,” Victoria says.
With its Skills and Knowledge Institute, Aski member-clients are trained in microfinance management, such as bookkeeping.
“There are many poor but talented people out there who, when empowered, can make miracles in life. In return [for helping them], they help others and their communities,” Victoria says.