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Tagline
Our Way Out of Poverty
(Kauswagan, Makakamtan)
The logo consist of an image of Catanduanes Province depicted in light green to denote ARDCI’s territorial origin; superimposed on the left side with a pliant bamboo plant leaning rightward, etched in dark green, to describe resilience in surmounting adversity, with the acronym “ARDCI” emblazoned beneath in red, to denote ARDCI’s relentless fight against poverty, and underscored with heavy blue line to denote the values of the organization.
Vision
A sustainable development institution for the economic empowerment of the enterprising poor in Bicol and beyond. Mission To provide financial and non-financial services that enhance members’ quality of life. Objectives • To reach out to 33,000 enterprising poor in Bicol and beyond
• To delight members with responsive products and services
• To ensure financial sustainability of ARDCI
• To make ARDCI a happy and rewarding place to work in
ARDCI’S History Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes (ARDCI) is an offshoot of a medium scale development project for Catanduanes known as the Catanduanes Agricultural Support Programme (CatAg), conceptualized by the province’s Department of Agriculture and funded by the European Union and the Philippine Government. CatAg, a nine-year development programme of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the European Commission (EC) and the Government of the Philippines (GOP)started its operation in Catanduanes in 1995. Its registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1998 saw the project’s historic transformation from a government aided development program into a people’s (membership) organization.
ARDCI is the non-government organization engaged in microfinance operation. It has taken over the credit component of the Catanduanes Agricultural Support Programme. With operations that started in January 2000, ARDCI’s microfinance efforts are managed by a Head Office (HO) based in Virac, Catanduanes and was then supported by five Branches, comprising:
Branch 1 -now VisionBank, Inc.-A Rural Bank, covering municipalities of Bato & Virac
Branch II -now Baras Branch covering municipalities of Baras, Gigmoto & San Miguel
Branch III -now Viga Branch covering municipalites of Bagamanoc, Panganiban & Viga;
Branch IV -now Caramoran Branch covering municipalites of Caramoran & Pandan;
Branch V -San Andres Branch
CatAg’s design has evolved since the initial Financing Memorandum was signed on 22 June 1993. CatAg's original methodology was to adopt a micro-project (MP) approach in increasing its target participants’ income. The MPs assisted community groups with infrastructure improvements and income-generating projects. However, an EC Support Mission in September and October 1995 resulted in a shift to a so-called microbusiness (MB) approach, with MBs financed through Savings and Loan Systems (SLSs). Trend showed off microfinance initiatives through new innovations into the sector. Solidarity lending transpired as a distinctive methodology, made famous by Dr. Muhammad Yunus at Grameen banking experience in Bangladesh, India.
An essential feature of this new approach is the creation of an independent rural finance institution owned, operated, and managed by ARDCI, which will provide a sustainable vehicle for future growth. The recommended shift to the MB and SLS approach was formally approved through Rider No. 1 to the Financing Memorandum signed on 01 March 1997. An extension of eight months to 31 December 1999 was effected through Rider No. 2.
The T/C phase and ARDCI’s role in it was reviewed and supported by the EC’s Pre-completion Review Mission in July and August 1999. The new operating arrangements were discussed in 1999 and early 2000 and had resulted in Rider No. 3 to cover the period from 01 January until 30 April 2000, allowing processing time through Rider No. 4 (01 May 2000 31 August 2000), to cover the preparation of the revisions to the final Rider No. 5 of the T/C Phase.
On October 8, 2002, in a landmark undertaking, ARDCI founded VisionBank, Inc.-A Rural Bank. Originally one of ARDCI’s branches covering the towns of Virac and Báto. VBInc is the first microfinance-oriented bank in the Philippines after the General Banking Act of 2000. ARDCI Branches and Offices
ARDCI’s (and CatAg’s) success in Catanduanes can be gleaned from the groundbreaking opening of its Tabaco Branch in Mainland Bicol in December 2002. Groundbreaking in the sense that it completely reversed the usual trend where development initiatives would usually come into the province from the mainland (and other centers). Many of such initiatives were not even able to gain a foothold in the island before they withered away, funding and strategies and all. But ARDCI held on, steadfastly breaking new grounds, weathering storms inside and out, figuratively and literally. From its single Tabaco branch, it eventually was able to establish ten (10) branches in mainland Bicol, covering Albay, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon.
ARDCI’s Institutional Values
• Commitment to member satisfaction
• Passion for innovative and responsive services
• Integrity and transparency
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