MASICAP II - Year 1 and Year 2 Operations

Pilot Operation

In August 2002, MASICAP II was formally launched to operate in 5 SZOPAD areas namely: Cotabato City, Digos City, Gen. Santos City, Iligan City and Kidapawan City. Fifteen (15) senior students taking up business courses were recruited from Notre Dame University, Notre Dame of Marbel University, Notre Dame of Dadiangas College and Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). The students were given a one-month training on project feasibility study preparation and were fielded as three-person teams. They volunteered to work with the program and earn academic units as if they were in school. This arrangement was made possible with an agreement with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 11 Series of 2002) allowing the foundation to recruit yearly senior Business Administration, Commerce or Economics students from participating schools to be trained and work for the program instead of attending their remaining academic subjects. The recruited students earned academic credits from the program and graduated as if they were in school.

Masicap 2 Batch 1 Recruits with Father Piron seated at the center:
Standing (L-R): Lourdes Suico (NDU), Ma. Teresa Dideles (NDDC), Jozce Patiño (NDU), Grace Lim (NDU), Ken Reston (MSU-IIT), Vladimir Lenin Legaspi (MSU-IIT), Ervi Catbagan (NDMU), Sulkhaymie Saripullah (NDU), Esmeralda Dinopol (NDU), Lorene Servando (MSU-IIT), Ria Simsuangco (NDMU), Rosita Benting (MSU-IIT).
Seated (L-R): Ethel Silva (NDDC), Sittie Aireen Lomangcolob (MSU-IIT), Nanette Agdeppa (Corporate Secretary-MASICAP), Cynthia Lisondra (Oversight Committee), Ilde Berdan (Oversight Committee) and Rollie Dela Cruz (NDDC)

Cotabato City was closed after the 2^nd Quarter of the Pilot Operations because of the peace and order situation in the area.

The Paterno family fully funded the pilot operations with some donations from the MASICAP Alumni.

The performance of the teams were continuously monitored by the Program Management Staff, composed of one coordinator and a secretary, based in MEDCO at SSS Building, J.P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City. An oversight committee of three (3) Davao-based MASICAP Alumni guides the management staff.

The teams have met the expectations of the foundation. The satisfactory performance of the teams led to the decision of extending and expanding program if there would be enough LGU support.

Year II Operation

After the pilot year, Local Government Units have been invited to support the annual field operations of P250,000 per team. The amount will be used for the following expenses of each field team:

Salary (Prof.) of 1 graduate MASICAP

Allowance of 2 student-recruits

Reimbursable Transportation Expense

TOTAL

P 96, 000

120, 000

34, 000

P 250, 000

8 LGUs positively answered to the invitation and were convinced that MASICAP II is indeed viable and beneficial to their areas. These are: Davao City, Davao del Sur, Gen. Santos City, Iligan City, North Cotabato, Sarangani Province, Butuan City and Surigao City.

Training of MASICAP II First Batch. Recruits solving Case Studies

However, in October 31, 2003, MASICAP Butuan was closed because there were requests from the LGUs that the foundation could not grant.

The foundation also received a P1.5 M support from the Development Bank of the Philippines to fund the office operations for fiscal year 2003-2004.

Presently, the program is uniformly implemented in the 7 areas following the concepts and principles of MASICAP I.

MASICAP MSME Development Foundation Incorporated

Medium and Small scale Industries Coordinated Action Program II (MASICAP II)