The Micro No More Universe 3D Awards is a competition organized by SEEDFINANCE aimed at finding successful PFI-supported client-operated enterprises that productively adopted and utilized new business innovations particularly the use of Mobile and Electronic Technology, Nature-friendly Methods and the Maximization of local resources.

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/26/2010 -- In this year's Micronomore Universe National Stakeholders Conference that will be held in Cebu City, Oct. 20, 2010, one of the main highlights of the conference is The Micro No More Universe 3D Awards. This aims to celebrate, give due recognition and provide incentives to innovative micro- or small entrepreneurs for using mobile technology, clean energy and local resources in bringing his/her enterprise to the level of success, as well as to underscore business models that will build mass consciousness to the public that the use of technology, clean/renewable energy and utilization local resources are effective tools for sustainable enterprise development.

You can give them the opportunity be recognized by sending in your nominations now until October 17, 2010.

The Micro No More Universe 3D Awards is a competition organized by SEEDFINANCE aimed at finding successful PFI-supported client-operated enterprises that have made the most of the 3 dimensions (MNM) of business innovations in the fields of:

1. Mobile and Electronic Technology - the client uses, even on a limited scale, mobile phone or ATM for his/her business transactions. This may include payment and collection system using either SMART Money or through electronic banking of the PFI or ATM services.

2. Nature-friendly Methods - the client uses, even on a limited scale, clean/renewable energy to power up his/her enterprise or alternative fuel sources and recycling initiatives.

3. Maximization of local resources - the client is developing or patronizing locally-available supply of raw materials for his/her business and is not entirely dependent on semi-finished products of transnational corporations.

PRIZES AT STAKE
For the Micro No More Universe 3D Awards Grand Prize Winner , the winning client will receive a PLDT Business Connectivity package (Computer unit with internet connection), its Partner Financial Institution will also receive a SMART Internet TV and as for its RPO/BDA, a brand new digital camera. First Runner-Up Client will receive the Talk and Text Internet business console courtesy of SMART Telecommunications and lastly, the Second Runner-Up winning client will get to take home a Retailer Phone/SIM Business Package with SMART Money Card, also from SMART.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. Nominees should be good-performing clients of SEEDFINANCE Partner Financial Institutions (PFIs).
2. Applicants for the awards are to be nominated by the RPO or BDA and endorsed by the Partner-Financial Institution.
3. Market value of the assets of nominated enterprise must be minimum of P300,000 up to a maximum of P5 million.
4. RPO or BDA submits a 1-page write-up on the enterprise with at least 3 pictures or a video showing the client with his/her economic activity and the product or service.

HOW TO NOMINATE

To nominate someone or to enter directly, please complete this nomination form, attach supporting documents, and email these to admin@micronomore.com

The Micro No More Universe 3D Awards Committee will also accept your best audio-visual documentation to showcase your nominee at the awards rites. So please mail or courier your DVDs, CDs, and collateral to:

SEEDFINANCE Corporation, Unit 49 PARC House Building, 227 EDSA, Mandaluyong City Metro Manila, Philippines 1556

To register and more information about the Micronomore Universe National Stakeholders Conference on Oct. 20, in Cebu City please visit http://www.micronomore.com

About SEEDFINANCE:
SEEDFINANCE is a registered as a microfinance-oriented financing company in April 2007 by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines. Its two founding organizations are CARE Philippines and Sustainable Economic Activity Development (SEAD) Incorporated. SEEDFINANCE provides high quality microfinancial services to millions of poor and low-income people in the Philippines with a strong network of 73 partner organizations. SEEDFINANCE also delivers loans, working capital and asset acquisition means to small businesses. To date, the company has reached more than 1.2 Million people through its partner-organizations across the whole country.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

SMARTowns or the Sustainably Mobile, Affordably Renewable Technology Project aims to expand the reach of banking services beyond the traditional range of brick-and-mortar branches. Where the client is, that is where the banking service is supposed to be done and realized, all within sound, prudent, and safe banking environments.

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/26/2010 -- Micro, Small-, and Medium- Enterprise (MSME )finance is getting an unexpected, long-overdue attention. From the government trade and industry agencies to the regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Magna Carta for MSMEs is making its presence and impact felt now more than ever, since the charter's issuance in October 2008.

Banks, NGOs, cooperatives, even private lenders and the omni-present pawnshops are now doing some sort of micro- or SME financing support. This is the environment where microfinance institutions are now operating: an environment replete with competition, innovation, and need-for-speed implementation.

In the BSP 2009 year-end report on microfinance, it cited a global study which declared the Philippines as the best country in the world in terms of microfinance regulations. Implementation and industry reach are also very encouraging. In the banking industry, more than 210 banks with microfinance operations have lent a total of PhP6.4 Billion to nearly 900,000 households. While no hard statistics on the cooperatives and NGOs that are also into micro- and SME finance exist, at least a thousand cooperatives and no less than a hundred Microfinance Institutions (MFI)-NGOs would have delivered an equally substantial outreach.

Innovations in the delivery of MSME finance products and services could be credited with the improving outreach statistics. While for the longest time, MSME had limited reach, it is encouraging that already, a total of 52 rural banks are reportedly doing mobile banking to expand and fast-track the delivery of their microfinance services. Outside of banks, MFI-NGOs and cooperatives are doing their share. In its own little way, SEEDFINANCE Corporation, a wholesale MFI, is working closely with about 40 MFIs in its 75-strong MFI network in the realm of mobile banking, using mobile phones, ATM machines, and POS (point-of-sale) machines to deliver MSME finance to farmers, fisher-folks, petty traders, and other seemingly insignificant local economic players in hard-to-reach island and upland communities.

The Opportunity
Over the past decades, a lot of hard to reach, underserved island communities have switched to and are limited to using commercial and rural banks in nearby islands since most small savings-and-credit cooperatives are not meeting their financial needs.

One example is the Bantayan Island which is primarily a fishing community. Municipalities in the island encouraged commercial fishing to the peoples' hearts' content, unmindful of the dangers posed not only to the environment but to the precarious local island economy as well. Much of the catch is exported to mainland Cebu and Mindanao, and middlemen and large importers benefit more.

Farming and poultry-raising provided alternative livelihood sources for the islanders. While backyard and small-scale farming, including mango- and corn-planting, copra-making and tuba-gathering, are slowly being relegated to the background, poultry farms have proliferated and Bantayan eggs are regularly exported to Cebu, Manila, and Mindanao.

This SMARTown Project hopes to complement the municipal fisheries management development plan, if not the overall island development of the local government units through a relevant stake in various socio-economic initiatives that will optimize the use of the agricultural and fisheries resources.

The Promise
Mobile banking aims to deliver the promise of accessible, reliable, and affordable development finance initiatives to hard-to-reach areas that are either un-served or under-served. Having realized this early on, the BSP's Monetary Board has laid down the regulatory groundwork to guide electronic money (e-money) issuances and operations. Such guidelines ensure not only consumer protection and risks mitigation but also efficient and convenient retail payments and fund transfer mechanisms.

A network of ATM machines, mobile/e-money, POS machines, and other mobile banking channels thru the cooperation of telecommunications companies, banks, ATM solutions providers, systems technicians, and BDS (Business Development Services) experts augur well for the boosting of the island's economic activities. Imagine the FCCT Coop (First Consolidated Cooperative Along Tanon Seaboard, a multi-purpose coop based in Madridejos) and its membership being linked to electronic cash platforms, transacting and realizing transactions at their own time, their most convenient place, not needing to travel far or even leave their site of business. An MSMEntrepreneur can now pay loans, withdraw money, make a deposit, or even simply buy a kilo of rice, a gallon of gasoline, or motor-boat fan-belt, using e-money stored in a mobile phone, an ATM card, a debit card, or any other electronic tool. Person-to-Person, Point-to-Point (P2P) transfers, purchases, bills payments, are affected real-time, at the client's convenience.

The policy and regulatory environment for these have been set in place. Stakeholders – including technical, financial, and social – have been assembled. The playing field has been scanned.

In addition, a Mobile BEAT (Mobile Banking Education And Training) Program is even now underway to deliver essential technical capacity building initiatives to FCCT and its constituents. The coop shall be supported by its major partner, SEEDFINANCE Corporation, with a series of training programs on mobile banking MIS (management information systems), liquidity management, product planning and development, and marketing. The clients shall also receive reinforcing education and training on the use of mobile banking channels, and the business opportunities that go with them.

The Stakeholders
To deliver the promise of the SMARTown Project, a number of stakeholders are being brought to the fore.

First Consolidated Cooperative Along Tanon Seaboards, SMART Communications, Banco De Oro, ENCASH ATM Solutions, PLDT KaAsenso, LACCAS, Business Fair Trade Consultancy, Ennovent for Renewable Energy and Seedfinance Corporation.

SEEDFINANCE Corporation plays the lead role in leveraging the varied expertise of its network of strategic partners to support the various aspects of the SMARTown Project. Aside from the networking, the Corporation will also provide financial support to FCCT and its clients in terms of wholesale micro- and SME finance capital, ATM-POS-IAP liquidity management facilities, institutional loans, and soft loans for innovations. To protect these financial investments, Seedfinance shall provide close monitoring, and reinforcing education to both the MFI and its clients through the former's Seedfinance MAX (Microfinance Assistance eXtras) Advanced Consultancy Program and the MOBILE BEAT (Mobile Banking Education And Training) Program.

SMARTowns will definitely expand the reach of banking services beyond the traditional reach of brick-and-mortar branches. Where the client is, that is where the banking service is supposed to be done and realized, all within sound, prudent, and safe banking environments.

For more information about The SMARTown Project, please contact Seedfinance Corporation or visit http://seedfinance.net .

About Seedfinance
Seedfinance is registered as a microfinance-oriented financing company in April 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines. Its two founding organizations are CARE Philippines and Sustainable Economic Activity Development (SEAD) Incorporated. Seedfinance provides high quality microfinancial services to millions of poor and low-income people in the Philippines through a strong network of 73 partner organizations. Seedfinance also delivers loans, working capital and asset acquisition means to small businesses. To date, the company has reached more than 1.2 million people through its partner-organizations across the whole country.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Islands Activation Program is initiated by SMART Communications, the largest telecommunications company in the Philippines, in partnership with SEEDFINANCE a microfinance-oriented financing company. The program expands the financial services of Field Partner Financial Institutions. IAP endeavors to allow sustainability pricing and incentives so that the service will grow beyond financial dependency and will continue to serve its goals.

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/23/2010 -- There are about eight million overseas Filipino workers (OFW) deployed in various countries. Last year, BSP estimates that remittances have amounted to $17.3 billion which is equivalent to 10 percent of the Philippines gross domestic product. This makes overseas remittances the largest foreign exchange resources for the Philippine economy, next to exports of goods and services.

Remittance is the process of transferring money by a foreign worker to his or her home country or from a different area in the same country to another point of pick-up in another country. This is widely used by OFWs to send money to their loved ones back home. Whenever they use this method, it promotes access to financial services for the sender and recipient, thereby increasing financial and social inclusion.

It is a fact that remittances and money transfers in the Philippines are playing an increasingly large role in the economy of the country and contributing to easing household and enterprise fund management both from the sender and the receiver.

Over the last decade, technology has reshaped the face of the remittance system. New technological frontiers are now available, undoubtedly a great improvement in efficiency and in reducing cost of the remittance process.

With traditional methods, access to facilities is often limited especially to those in remote and under serviced areas. Today, the ubiquity of mobile technology makes it possible for almost anyone to conveniently have access to secure, efficient and low cost remittance platforms.

That is the good news! But is it reaching the target communities of poor households?

Before, remittances happen through conventional channel of agents (Western Union, Money Gram, Bank-to-Bank transfers, etc.). Western Union and Money Gram are generally confined in urban areas or town centers of a rural area while Bank-to-Bank transfers often have a higher propensity to require a bank account to avail of the service.

With the increasing relevance of cellular phones reaching the most remote and hard-to-reach places of the country, mobile money transfer has caught the interest of the people in these mountain and island barangays. Cellular phone as a remote control device to effect transfer of money elevated the system beyond its remarkable stage. It actually brings relevance to the lives of the poor.

The Islands Activation Program

Cooperatives and NGOs are located in areas where micro and small clients operate their enterprises. These are the areas where banks and other financial institutions dont dare go but where the need for money transfer service is most needed. The goal of the Islands Activation Program is to accredit a field Partner-Financial Institution (PFI) to become a Money-In, Money-Out (MIMO) Center that functions like a SMART Wireless Center or a Banco de Oro branch in terms of intermediating fund transfers. Instead of crossing the sea or travelling on a dirt road going to an urban or city center just to pick up or send money, a client can now do all transactions within their community.

This convenience is embodied in a program initiated by SMART Communications, the largest telecommunications company in the Philippines, in partnership withSEEDFINANCE, a wholesale financial institution in the micro-no-more movement. The program provides money transfer services to the islands and remote barangays using mobile phones and liquidity fund facilities. It is implemented through retail financial institutions (cooperatives and NGOs) that facilitate the actual money reloading from the sources of funds to encashment by unbanked individuals and households.

The program is targeting to establish presence in 40 areas in the Visayas and Mindanao with combined user-outreach of 30,000 in the 2010 pilot phase. As of July 2010, it is almost 100% in terms of target area accomplishment.

More Benefits to the Client

Being enrolled in the program will enable a user to enjoy not just the convenience and affordability of money transfer services but also the handiness of bills payments and ATM services. Under the SMART Money program, each member will be issued with a PIN-based SMART Money card that can be used to pay for purchases and do withdrawals from any ATM. The card is linked to the mobile SIM of the subscriber. It is a secure way of moving and using money from one place to another and an efficient way of managing opportunity costs of the clients.

Benefits to the Field Partner Financial Institution

The program expands the financial services of a PFI. It appropriately responds to the needs of a micro-entrepreneur as this is mainly micro-remittance in nature. Since microfinance needs to be operated in a financially-sustainable manner, the program endeavors to allow sustainability pricing and incentives so that the service will grow beyond financial dependency and will continue to serve its goals.

To become a partner of Islands Activation Program (IAP), please contact any SEEDFINANCE field officers for the details of enrollment requirements. Visit http://seedfinance.net for more information.

About SEEDFINANCE
SEEDFINANCE is a registered as a microfinance-oriented financing company in April 2007 by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines. Its two founding organizations are CARE Philippines and Sustainable Economic Activity Development (SEAD) Incorporated. SEEDFINANCE provides high quality microfinancial services to millions of poor and low-income people in the Philippines with a strong network of 73 partner organizations. SEEDFINANCE also delivers loans, working capital and asset acquisition means to small businesses. To date, the company has reached more than 1.2 Million people through its partner-organizations across the whole country.

About Smart Communications, Inc
Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) is the Philippines leading wireless services provider with 43.2 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-March 2010. SMART has collaborated with SEEDFINANCE Corporation to equip island-based microfinance institutions with mobile-based financial products and technologies that will allow them to send and receive funds using SMART mobile phones. Since 2000, SMART has been actively promoting the use of mobile-based financial services and microfinance solutions, through the revolutionary Smart Money, the worlds first electronic cash card linked to a mobile phone. Through Smart Money, SMART subscribers are able to conduct mobile banking, electronic money transfers, micro-purchases and micro-payments with just a few clicks on a cellular phone with a SMART SIM.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm