GFA Microfinance Project In Bataan
The Province of Bataan
The province of Bataan is a small peninsula in the Philippines located across Metro Manila in southwestern Central Luzon. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City. The province is bounded on the north by Zambales, on the east and south by Manila Bay, and on the west by Luzon Sea. The peninsula is 48km long and 32km wide and much of it is covered with jungle. Terrain is mostly mountainous with a narrow coastal plain in the eastern side. It has two pronounced seasons: dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.
Bataan remains an agricultural province in spite of the rapid industrialization during the last decade. Cattle and carabao fattening, hog raising, and poultry industry, especially broilers and ducks and egg production, are some of the promising livelihood programs in the province.
Demographic Profile
Bataan Province is politically composed of 11 municipalities and 1 component city (Balanga). (2007 data, population in thousand, income in million pesos). The total population in 2007 is 662.153
Economy of Bataan Province
There are many manufacturing plants in Bataan. The largest is the petroleum refinery of Petron Corporation in Limay town. Nearby are petrochemical plants. The Bataan Export Processing Zone in Mariveles town in the southern part of the province is the first export zone to be established in the 1970s. Smaller factories are found in Orani and Dinalupihan. An industrial zone is rising in the former refugee center in Morong town. Tourism is fast becoming a major industry. A total of 62 banks were operating in the province with deposits of 11 billion pesos in 2007.
The province of Bataan has always been linked closely to the culture and economy of Manila. Much of what the province produces is exported to Manila. The primary traditional industry of Bataan is fishing. It is the home of thousands of fishermen whose industry has spawned a unique craft of net and fishtrap making.
The province's strategic location makes it an ideal site for industries that supply the needs of those in the freeport of Subic and economic zone of Clark. Heavy industries such as iron and steel and chemicals are recommended. For small and medium enterprises, food processing, garments and footwear items, furniture and fixtures, and jewelry are possible ventures to go into.
State of Poverty / Human Development
The province of Bataan received the 1999 ‘Gawad Sa Makataong Pagunlad’ achievement award for attaining the highest level in human development index since 1994. The award was given to Bataan in recognition of the province registering the highest levels in life expectancy and basic education based on the increase in gross school enrolment, and per capita income in the past 5 years. The award was given by the Human Development Network (HDN) in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the National Economic Development Authority.
GFA microfinance project in Dinalupihan
Dinalupihan, Bataan Province
Dinalupihan is a municipality in the province of Bataan. It is the only land-locked municipality of the province. The town has a land area of 4,460.00 hectares 6.69% of the total land area of Bataan. Dinalupihan is subdivided into 46 barangays (the smallest administrative divisions in the Philippines). According to the latest census, it has a population of 92,289 people in 14,833 households.
Dinalupihan is primarily an agricultural town whose main resources are palay, sugar cane, corn, root crops, legumes and fruits including livestock and poultry. Dinalupihan specializes in the manufacture of "sawali" and torch, food processing, and tinapa (smoked fish) production. Animal raising like poultry and livestock is also a main source of livelihood for the townsfolk.
Emerging as one of the potential investment havens in the region, Dinalupihan is primarily suitable for agro-industrial investments due to its strategic location and rich agricultural produce.
Dinalupihan Branch
The project in Dinalupihan has been started in 2010 and the Branch was established in September 2010. The Branch has currently 50 borrowers with an average size loan of $150.