LAGAWE, Ifugao– In a little more than three months, the number of satellite offices of the Ifugao Global Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IGEMCO) has increased, helping residents in this impoverished province skip a step in their efforts when investing wisely hard-earned money.
IGEMCO satellite offices in Lamut and Hingyon, both in Ifugao, as well as in Dippun in Quirino province, along with the main office in Lagawe, complement mobile offices in other parts of Ifugao, which all facilitate the availment of services in various communities.
There is now a satellite office in Banaue. It is located at Barangay Poblacion, or the town proper. Exact location: next to Las Vegas Lodge, adjacent to Uyami building where a Western Union branch is situated. No reason whatsoever to get lost. There is a mounting call for additional satellite offices. It is not impossible that negotiations are underway to open more soon.
For the time being, Banaue residents are accorded full access to several services offered by the IGEMCO.
“From a very, very close perspective, this is a welcome development for those who are residing in the towns covered by the second district of Ifugao. In the coming months, in view of the increased membership of the IGEMCO, there will be more opportunities for the benefit of the people, given the wide-ranging services, products and benefits extended by the cooperative,” general manager Godfrey Dominong said.
Many residents in Ifugao are attracted by IGEMCO’s timely and relevant financial assistance programs.
IGEMCO envisions Ifugao to become a hub of pioneering business owners.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Dominong motioned that the expansion strategy of the IGEMCO is effective and the opening of the Banaue satellite office is “a reflection of how IGEMCO officers truly care for the poor in marginalized communities.”
“Essentially, this is the prevailing mood and attitude of our ever-caring officers,” he added.
The program was attended by board of directors, members and guests. Some of them even came from the capital town of Lagawe.
The innovative expansion plan is projected to raise the aggregate assets of the IGEMCO this year. Over the years, IGEMCO registered a positive growth record due to sound fiscal management.
Early this year, IGEMCO conducted a well-attended general assembly meeting. The IGEMCO Times, the cooperative’s quarterly publication, was also launched.
The newspaper launch was witnessed by a crowd of 2,000. It was attended by Governor Pedro Mayam-o, many other officials and top leaders in the private sector.
In recent times, more residents have joined cooperatives as this one. The change of attitude has been significant.
“We will, of course, continue to work very hard to promote awareness,” Dominong quipped.
His sentiment, in some sense, is a kind of a valuable product. The booming cooperative sector has become more and more market-oriented.
From the IGEMCO’s point of view, as its name suggests, the satellite office in this municipality long known worldwide for its enchanting rice terraces is an extension of the main office and so many of the activities at the Banaue satellite office are economic or financial in nature. New members in this part of the province need a place to transact official business. This is a decent place to be more exact. Convenience is the word.
To date, IGEMCO enjoys the distinction as one of the major cooperatives in this upland Cordillera province.
IGEMCO members are so proud of their hardworking general manager and dedicated board directors and office personnel.
They take pride in the “caring ways” of their officers which has led to responsive stewardship that has yielded positive results.
It is still too early and hard to say exactly how the IGEMCO management will reinvent systems here to suit conditions on the ground and who will initially call the shots at the office. What is certain is that it is occurring.
So when you find another newly-opened IGEMCO satellite office, just be reminded that such place is a product of dedication and hard work. **By Anthony A. Araos
