| RBDI is best rural bank in region-11, No. 4 nationwide |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre | |
| Saturday, 18 October 2008 | |
 (Left to right) Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Vice-President for Region-11 Sam Butuan Abdul; LBP Vice-President for Mindanao branches Delia Ladao; Rural Bank of Digos, Incorporated (RBDI) Vice-President Genelyd Bautista; HR/Admin Manager Giovanni Gabriento LBP Executive Vice-President Wilfredo Maldia; and LBP Chief for Region-12 Joselito Gutierrez take a pose during the awarding rites at the LBP Plaza in Manila for outstanding rural banks in the country.
The Rural Bank of Digos, Incorporated (RBDI) has earned another feather on its cap after it garnered the most coveted award as the “Most Outstanding Rural Bank in Region-11 for 2007”, and 4th placer for the same tilt in the national category.
RBDI was chosen from among 420 Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) assisted rural banks in the country based on three criteria set for the tilt to wit: (1) Organizational Management, Business Operations and Financial Management, (2) Pass on Rate to Small Farmers and Fishermen, and (3) Partnership with LBP.
“The RBDI was also got the same recognition in the year 2003, 2005 and 2006 in the regional level, while in 2006 we emerged as fifth placer in the national level,” Genelyd Bautista, RBDI vice-president said.
Bautista said it became a solid proof that RBDI is serious in giving services to the people in the countryside who needed their expertise and experience in the field of rural banking in the countryside even if the country is facing a financial crisis.
“We are very happy for such accolades since it could provide high morale to our personnel at the field and in our different offices and boost the trust and confidence of our clients who trusted our competence for several years already,” Bautista said.
Finance Secretary Gary Teves, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, LBP President and CEO Gilda Pico, and LBP Executive Vice-President Wilfredo Maldia handover the plaques and cash prizes to Bautista and RBDI HR/Admin Manager Giovanni Gabriento at the LBP Plaza on August 29.
LBP First Vice-President Head Mindanao Branches Group Delia Ladao; LBP Vice-President for Region 11 Sam Butuan Abdul and LBP Vice-President for Region 12 Joselito Gutierrez witnessed the awarding rites.
RBDI got its acronym as the “Pioneer Bank” since it is the first bank to operate in Digos and the Southern part of the then undivided Davao since 1955.
The banks first board of directors was composed of Roman Cuison; Alfonso Cuison; Rodolfo Caños; Hermogenes Carbonell; and Plamin Dianco. RBDI started its formal operations on February 17, 1956.
RBDI has grown to become one of the most financially stable and well-managed rural banks in the country today.
Through the years, RDDI has been in the forefront of helping micro, small and medium enterprises, farmers, businessmen and various types of entrepreneurs in Southern Mindanao, especially in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato.
It has established strong financial partnerships with Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, LBP, Coconut Industry Investment Fund Finance Corporation, Micro-Enterprise Access to the Banking Sector in Mindanao, People’s Credit and Finance Corporation, Upland Development Program under the Department of Agriculture, the European Union and Social Security System (SSS).
Its head office is located along Rizal Avenue, Digos City and it has four other banks in Bansalan, Davao del Sur; Malita, Davao del Sur; Kidapawan, North Cotabato; and Antipas, North Cotabato.
Among its services are; acceptance of savings, time and current account deposits. It grants agricultural, commercial, industrial, microfinance, barangay, salary and pension loans. Other services include on-line deposits/withdrawals, Western Union transactions, SSS and Philhealth payments, electric and telephone bill payments.
Last year’s board of directors was composed of Nilda Cuison-Go (chairperson); Roberto Veneracion (vice-chairperson); Eugenio Derequito (President); Genelyd Bautista (vice-president); Pablito Junsay, Gene Philip Derequito, and Luciano Cameros (corporate secretary) composed the board of directors.
The present management team is composed of Lilia Calamba – general manager and manager of RBDI-Digos main office; Faustino Tampipi –auditor/compliance officer; Giovanni Gabriento – HR/admin manager; Ivy Monteverde – accountant; Alma Maniquiz – manager (Bansalan); Merlita Cole – manager (Malita); Dioselin Putong – manager (Kidapawan); and Pablo Pantinople – manager (Antipas).
“RBDI is looking into the establishment of additional branches in different parts of the region to boost their services and help the government in its drive of acquiring a strong economy,” Bautista said. |