2015 Citi Microentrepreneurs Awards launched

The 2015 Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA), the annual search for most outstanding microentrepreneurs in the country, officially started this year in a ceremony held recently at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Since 2002, the CMA has recognized entrepreneurs at the grassroots who have overtaken poverty with support from microfinance institutions as partners in financial inclusion and enterprise development. Through its 12-year run, the CMA has recognized microentrepreneurs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao whose thriving businesses have greatly improved their quality of life and helped the community through employment generation.

“The nominations we receive each year are always awe-inspiring. For instance, it’s amazing how last year’s national winner started from removing fish heads in a bagoong factory before becoming a manufacturer and exporter of bagoong. This year we expect more submissions of similar stories of entrepreneurial triumph,” said MCPI Executive Director Allan Robert Sicat.

The launch signals the start of the nomination process as program partners BSP, Citi Philippines, and the Microfinance Council of the Philip- pines, Inc. prepare to receive nominees for the various awards categories from microfinance banks, cooperatives, non-government institutions, and microfinance networks. A National Winner and Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao Awardees will be chosen from among the nominees. Special Awardees for Agri Micro-business, Innovation, and Community Leadership will also be recognized.