Filipino microentrepreneurs triumph at 4th DFIA

Philstar.com

January 19, 2026 | 11:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Celebrating the role of technology and innovation in shaping sustainable economic growth, the fourth Digital Financial Inclusion Awards (DFIA) honored Filipino microentrepreneurs and microfinance institutions (MFIs) who have engaged digital tools to grow their businesses and uplift their communities.

This year’s honorees embody how financial inclusion can drive sustainable growth and create lasting opportunities for underserved Filipinos.

Jointly organized by the Microfinance Council of the Philippines Inc. (MCPI) and the Citi Foundation, with the support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the DFIA continues to champion inclusive progress through digital transformation.

The awarding ceremony gathered key leaders and partners in the finance sector, including BSP governor Eli Remolona Jr., Citi Philippines CEO Paul Favila and MCPI chairperson Eduardo Jimenez, who emphasized the importance of innovation in strengthening the microfinance ecosystem.

A total of 17 outstanding microentrepreneurs received P100,000 each in cash grants and brand-new laptops to help accelerate their digital journey.

Representing diverse industries such as agriculture, food production, retail and handicrafts, this year’s awardees are Josephia Azores, Roby Grace Bernabe, Mylene Bersabal, Carmelita Dapanas, RJ De Chavez, Ailyn Flormata, Raquel Lanaban, Gladys Maipid, Edna Maloon, Annalisa Monil, Lorlie Noblezada, Rosalie Orijola, Cecilia Oroc, Maricar Pagao, Danise Palmero, Niel Danica Polong and Alan Romero.

At the institutional level, three institutions were also recognized for their leadership in advancing digitalization. The awardees included GRF Hublag Microfinance Foundation Inc., MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center, and Taytay Sa Kauswagan Inc.

“Our awardees prove that the old narrative of digital tools being out of reach and too complicated no longer holds,” said Remolona. “With simple yet innovative digital tools, such as online selling, QR payments, business systems, we are rewriting what’s possible for Filipino entrepreneurs.”

“The DFIA reinforces Citi Foundation’s mission to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities. We celebrate not only your business milestones but the lives you continue to uplift, as we all work together to build more sustainable, economically vibrant communities. Your entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to innovation inspire us all,” added Favila.

Now in its fourth year, the DFIA continues to serve as a platform for recognizing Filipino ingenuity and the power of technology to open new doors of opportunity. The program amplifies awareness of how microfinance and digital innovation help create a more resilient, inclusive, and empowered nation.

The DFIA builds on the legacy of the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards, allowing Citi Foundation and MCPI to further advance awareness of how microentrepreneurship and microfinance drive financial inclusion and empower low-income Filipinos toward sustainable growth.

Editor’s Note: This press release from the Microfinance Council of the Philippines Inc. is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.

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