In 1993, research showed that the lack of credit funds was not the issue. The Philippine private sector and government institutions have funds to lend in those times. The problem were: (1) lack of strong institutions, NGOs, cooperatives or banks, which could capably deliver credit and savings services to micro-entrepreneurs and poor households; (2) the view among many traditional sectors that the poor could not pay back loans or be good clients of microfinance programs; and (3) lack of national policies in support of microfinance.

Today, PUNLA believes that in developing a synergy between microfinance and business development services there will significant impact in improving the lives of the poor. Our effort is focused in providing knowledge and capacity-building services to better the quality of microfinance and micro-enterprise programs in the Philippines and Asia. PUNLA is a social enterprise that offers training and consultancy, market research, program management. It is the only NGO organized as a capacity building institution for microfinance and micro-enterprise development with a bias for remote, disadvantaged communities and the poor.