Since launching in 2007, the Negros Women of Tomorrow Foundation’s (NWTF) Village Phone program has grown exponentially. Today, more than 300 Village Phone businesses have been created in most parts of the Visayas Region in the Philippines, in the islands of Negros, Cebu, Samar, Bohol and Palawan. These businesses are helping to increase vital access to reliable and affordable telecommunications.

Village Phone Operators have been very happy with their businesses thus far, concentrating not only on renting out the phones for SMS and calls, but also on distributing airtime to people in the community. This has earned for them on average an additional P150-300 ($3-$6) per day for their phone business.

NWTF has been surprised that clients, even in areas where they thought Village Phone would not be necessary, have been interested in running this type of business. Demand has been high and continues to grow, with an expected 500 new businesses created by the end of the year.

"The program has generated a lot of interest among our clients." said Raymond Serios, Village Phone Manager at NWTF. "Rural people are happy that they now have convenient access to mobile phones, which is almost a necessity in the Philippines. With this technology now reaching even the farthest area, NWTF is optimistic that this will serve as a platform for other applications which would not only increase the income of VPOs but ultimately, bridge the divide between rural and urban communities."

In April, NWTF also hosted the first regional Village Phone Training for Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Telecoms working to implement their own programs. Participants from the Philippines, India, Cambodia, Samoa, and Indonesia were in attendance for the 3-day training, which included a field visit to meet Village Phone Operators.

Training participants discuss the various relationships involved in implementing Village Phone

Participants demonstrate how to attach an external antenna to the phone

NWTF is positioning the Village Phone Program to be an enabler that will bring about other solutions to both the community and the organization. Aside from strongly supporting the clients in selling airtime credits, NWTF is also working on getting clients to pay and receive their micro loans through their phones and use the devices to remit money. The introduction of these new activities would mean new revenue streams for the VPOs.