A Project Dungganon client of 20 years and a local of Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, Medelina Cansancio wins Regional Award for the Visayas in the recently concluded 18th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards held Tuesday, June 16, 2021, via zoom conference.
“I am really thankful to Dungganon for this opportunity and the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards for this recognition,” said Cansancio.
Medelina is into smoked and dried fish business. When she was starting her business, she admits that it was never easy as it entailed a lot of challenges, particularly the time when her small smoked fish factory burned down as she was transacting a business in Bacolod.
She felt devastated.
However, she learned of Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation’s Project Dungganon and had her first loan of P3,000 in 2001. With this, she was able to revive her business and now even exports some of her products to other countries like Japan, New Zealand, etc.
The Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards recognizes exemplary microentrepreneurs all over the Philippines. It also acknowledges their contributions to the local economy and the importance of microfinance to the economic development of marginalized communities.
Cansancio is one of the 10 awardees all over the Philippines under the Regional awards category. Other categories were the Covid-19 response champion and Youth microentrepreneurship awards.
NWTF founders— Ms. Suzzette Gaston and Ms. Corazon Henares accept the plaque of recognition on behalf of the organization. | Photo by NWTF.
“Medelina’s victory is also the victory of her family and her community. Her dedication and hard work will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration for the rest of our clients,” says Suzzette Gaston, NWTF Executive Director.
Gaston also expresses her appreciation to all of NWTF-Dungganon’s hard-working staff for supporting the clients to the best of their abilities.
Cansancio is NWTF’s 14th winner for the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) since its founding in 2002.
“It is imperative at this point, especially with the ongoing pandemic, to help microentrepreneurs thrive in their business and collectively help the economy recover,” said Gaston.
She added that microfinance organizations and like-minded institutions have a vital role in the recovery. She also extends her congratulations to other CMA nominees and winners and their respective microfinance organizations for making a difference in the lives of many.
NWTF is celebrating its 37th year of being instrumental to thousands of lives they have changed for the better.
