LAGAWE, Ifugao- – After gaining momentum following the highly-successful staging of its 23rd anniversary program recently in Lagawe, the Ifugao Global Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IGEMCO) is now ready to meet the challenges of the global order.
This development is one of the latest milestones reached by the Lagawe-based cooperative that officers and members are to face in 2017 and beyond.
General manager Godfrey Dominong said the IGEMCO is very much ready to take care of the needs of its members and also help the provincial government assert its role as an active partner in a borderless economy.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Dominong pointed out that IGEMCO is open to adopting new policies relative to the opportunities presented by the globally competitive market.
“The cooperative intends to stay in the course in order to preserve and consolidate the gains achieved in the last 23 years through sound management of resources,” he said.
During its general assembly program at the Lagawe Central School gymnasium, the cooperative’s quarterly newspaper IGEMCO Times was also launched. With a well-edited publication of its own, members are informed on the cooperative’s programs, projects and activities. The IGEMCO Times shall also take the lead role in nurturing a culture of caring and sharing towards competitiveness.
For his part, Governor Pedro Mayam-o vowed to extend help to the IGEMCO. He also thanked members for their relentless support in the implementation of various programs and projects of the provincial government.
“We have comprehensive platforms to provide the much-needed advice and assistance to well-meaning cooperatives as this one,” he motioned. “This will help them rise above the challenges of the times through hard work, discipline and dedication.”
Governor Mayam-o, whose life and work as a public servant is largely devoted to uplift the conditions of the poor, was the program’s keynote speaker. In attendance were nearly 1,000 members from Hingyon, Lamut, Lagawe, Kiangan and Banaue, all in Ifugao, as well as Diffun in Quirino province. Key leaders in the public and private sectors also attended.
On the other hand, Julio Tindungan, a world-class engineer, noted that the IGEMCO is now ideally positioned to become the economic engine of the province as part of the Mayam-o administration’s pro-people development agenda and initiatives.
As one of the major cooperatives of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and throughout Northern Luzon, Tindungan said the IGEMCO hopes to become the “incubator” of small and medium-sized businesses of members by offering them the chance to grow significantly.
“I’m quite lucky to be an IGEMCO member. It seems the IGEMCO has attracted more members in recent times. That is very good news,” he stressed.
Board of Directors chairperson Evangeline Ayangwa and the other officers said through series of internal and external assessment, including consultations, the IGEMCO’s programs, products and services and designed to transform members into productive members of society with mechanisms attuned to the interest and needs of the marginalized community.
The well-attended program is an acknowledgement of IGEMCO officers’ efforts to promote the welfare of members. As such, general manager Dominong and the officers as well as personnel deserve the people’s accolade because of their sincerity and hard work.
Other highlights of the day-long occasion were the Unity Walk, cultural presentations and election of officers. The Unity Walk salient features include the participation of the Don Bosco High School drum and lyre band as well as Philippine National Police (PNP)-Lagawe escorts. Young and old members alike, proudly wearing their newly-issued IGEMCO shirts, paraded at the major thoroughfares in the capital town of Lagawe. These shirts, by the way, strikingly carried the new IGEMCO logo.
Faithful to the core value of compassion and care for the poor and needy, the IGEMCO likewise opened and blessed its Business Development and Lending Center and Livelihood and Training Center, both in Lagawe, to the public. The former is located at Barangay Poblacion East while the latter is situated at Abaac, Lumingay Street of Barangay Poblacion North. Prominent personalities witnessed the blessing rites.
In a few hours after the program, the IGEMCO has already created new opportunities for its members thus, empowering them to go global.
In the coming years, considering the proximity of the Philippines with her neighbors in the South East Asian region, it only prudent for IGEMCO to forge stronger ties and focus its attention on cornering even a small percentage of the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) market. The ASEAN is composed ten countries. Fittingly, the ASEAN integration program is already well in place as the Philippines place host this year’s 50th anniversary.
The change in the attitude of members after being exhorted by several speakers has also been significant.
From a closer perspective, they also drew great inspiration and motivation from former governor and lawyer Eugene Balitang and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Ifugao office OIC Isabelita Codiamon, the program’s masters of ceremonies. **By Anthony A. Araos
