History of CAPS-R, Inc.

This archdiocesan program, which provides financial assistance to unemployed women in Cebu, was initiated by Cebu Caritas, Inc. in the early 1990s under the chairmanship of Msgr. Roberto F. Alesna. It was a response to the situation of women from disadvantaged backgrounds whose desire to engage in entrepreneurial activities was hindered by severe financial constraints. They asked whether the Church could help by lending start-up capital. In response, Msgr. Alesna negotiated with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for a grant.

With the assistance of PCSO and in search of a more viable solution, Cebu Caritas established a temporary initiative called the Kaunlaran Pangkabuhayan Project. This venture was primarily anchored on trust. It provided interest-free capital to women, with the understanding that repayments would be made in installments so that others in similar situations could also benefit. However, due to a high rate of non-repayment and the lack of proper entrepreneurial support systems, the program eventually ceased operations. Despite this, the need for financial inclusion persisted.

At this juncture, Sr. Ma. Felisa De Claro, RVM, then Admin-Finance Director of Cebu Caritas, emerged with a renewed vision. Deeply committed to assisting unemployed women who lacked access to conventional banking, she presented a well-researched program proposal to the Executive Committee composed of Msgr. Roberto F. Alesna, Fr. Jose Ma. Lim, and Fr. Wendell Jose Balbuena. She named her brainchild CAPS-R Grameen, an acronym for Cebu Archdiocesan Program for Self-Reliance. Inspired by the Grameen Bank founded by Professor Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh, the word Grameen was appended to the program’s name. The Executive Committee subsequently presented the proposal to His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, then Archbishop of Cebu and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who gave his full support and convened the Board.

In 1996, the Board of Trustees approved the launch of CAPS-R Grameen using the unused funds of other Caritas programs as seed capital. Staff preparation followed. Sr. Marife Leslie Luna, LGC, was appointed as the first Program Coordinator and was sent to Bacolod, together with Jimmy Camello and Catherine Vinculado, for a three-week training at the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation. Upon their return, they trained additional staff necessary for the program’s operations. All training expenses were shouldered by Catholic Relief Services.

A year later, the program was introduced to the women parishioners of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Bogo, Cebu. With the full cooperation of the parish priest, Fr. Sylvino Y. Figues, CAPS-R Grameen was formally implemented on March 7, 1997, making Bogo the first established branch of the program. In time, CAPS-R built its own capitalization through interest earnings from its members, fully repaid the borrowed Caritas funds, employed nearly a hundred staff members, and expanded its presence by establishing additional branches throughout the Archdiocese under the umbrella of Cebu Caritas, Inc.

After more than fifteen years of operation, the Board—under the leadership of the new Archbishop, Most Rev. Jose S. Palma—decided that the program should operate independently in preparation for the promulgation of Republic Act No. 10693. Archbishop Palma appointed Fr. Wendell Jose Balbuena as Chair of the program and Sr. Ma. Florita P. Taylaran, RVM, as Admin-Finance Director. A separate Board of Trustees for CAPS-R was then constituted, again chaired by Archbishop Palma.

On October 1, 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved CAPS-R as a separate non-stock, non-profit, non-government organization and directed that this newly established microfinance institution—now fully independent of Cebu Caritas, Inc.—be registered simply as CAPS-R, Inc. Five years later, in compliance with Republic Act No. 10693, also known as the Microfinance NGOs Act, the designation “(A Microfinance NGO)” was appended to its registered name. Thus, the program evolved from CAPS-R Grameen to CAPS-R, Inc., and finally, on September 24, 2019, to CAPS-R, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO).

This official name clearly communicates CAPS-R’s identity and mission as a Microfinance NGO. The organization is dedicated to contributing to the socio-economic advancement of urban and rural poor communities through financial and development services, particularly for individuals who lack access to conventional banking and related services. Guided by ethical lending practices, CAPS-R enables beneficiaries to safely access reasonable small loans for income-generating projects, leading to improved quality of life and greater social equity. From its inception to the present, women have remained CAPS-R’s primary clients and beneficiaries.

Ten branches have been opened, located in the different parts of the Archdiocese of Cebu namely: 1. Bantayan Island, 2. Bogo, 3. Camotes Island, 4. Carcar, 5. Cebu City, 6. Daan Bantayan, 7. Danao, 8. Mactan Island, 9. Moalboal, 10. Toledo

CAPS-R has recorded 120 staff deployed in the above-mentioned branches and in the Head Office. It stands on a policy that Cebu City minimum wage order be strictly followed upon hiring, regardless of their respective geographical area of assignment following their appointment. From its founding to the present, CAPS-R has served over 30 thousand women beneficiaries through integrated financial, spiritual, and skills development assistance. It has also supported the government efforts in 2 significant ways: first, through the payment of taxes, and second, by actively pursuing poverty eradication programs in accordance with Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10693.

All staff members—including priests and religious sisters involved in CAPS-R—are salaried employees. No individual receives dividends at any time. All interest earnings are reinvested into the institution to sustain its operations. This financial discipline is a key reason why CAPS-R continues to live up to its name as a truly self-reliant institution.

Vision : Alleviating poverty by building self-reliant communities.

Mission : Providing financial & training assistance to poor women for their own possible business ventures.

Strategy : Identify and recruit poor women who are willing to work in the spirit of mutual cooperation and be guided by the gospel values.

Goal : Build a membership base through our community development officers.

Objectives:

1. Extend banking facilities to the poor
2. Eliminate the exploitation of the poor by money lenders
3. Create opportunities for self-employment for the unemployed
4. Bring the disadvantaged, mostly women from the poorest households, within the fold of an organizational format which they can understand and manage by themselves
5. Reverse the age-old vicious circle of “low income, low savings & low investment,” into the virtuous cycle of “low income, injection of credit, investment, more income, more savings, more investment, more income.”

Board of Trustees

Chairman of the Board
Most Rev. Alberto S. Uy, DD

Members:
Msgr. Daniel Sanico
Fr. Wendell Jose Balbuena
Fr. Isaias Gerali, Jr.
Fr. Joseph de Aquino
Sr. Ma. Leslie Luna, LGC
Atty. Frances Megan Ouano
Mr. Amado Go
Mrs. Asteria Gaboy
Mrs. Meniane Toledo
Mrs. Jelly Bercero

CAPS-R Officers

Fr. Wendell Jose Balbuena
President

Fr. Isaias Gerali, Jr.
Vice President – Operations

Mrs. Meniane Toledo
Vice President – Admin

Mrs. Asteria Gaboy
Operations Director

Branch Managers

1. Mr. Arnel Rosales – Bogo
2. Mr. Jero Escala – Bantayan Island
3. Ms. Rose Camay – Daan Bantayan
4. Mr. Arnold Alburo – Danao
5. Mr. Teofilo Chiong – Camotes
6. Ms. Jelyn Tepait – Cebu City
7. Mr. Luis Pagobo – Toledo
8. Ms. Cristine Balones – Moalboal
9. Mr. Alfredo Sarsalejo – Carcar
10. Ms. Michelle Caballes – Mactan Island

Contact Details

Address: 127 A. Bonifacio St., Cebu City 6000
Contact Details: (032) 328-2995. 328-3506