Oldest international bank in the Philippines, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), continues to support the country’s steady recovery from the global pandemic by helping micro and small businesses to succeed. Bank officers led by its Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing Head Mai Sangalang recently visited women-led microentrepreneurs in the Bicol Region who are recipients of the “Standard Chartered Foundation COVID-19 Recovery Program” in partnership with leading microfinance institution Tulay sa Pag-Unlad, Inc. (TSPI). The microfinancing project launched last year has benefited more than 400 youth and women microentrepreneurs, giving them affordable funding to restore, diversify and expand their microbusinesses. “Standard Chartered promotes economic inclusion and one of the most effective ways to do this is to support micro, small and medium enterprises which are the backbone of the Philippine economy,” explained SCB Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing Mai Gacilo Sangalang (Shown here with dried fish trader and exporter Funny Azales from Calabanga, Camarines Sur). “It is humbling to see the positive outcomes of the project and meet some of the young women entrepreneurs who turned adversity into opportunity during the pandemic.”