LAGAWE, Ifugao– The Ifugao Global Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IGEMCO), one of the major cooperatives in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), is ready to serve its members and the public as a center point of its operations in Hingyon town.
Some 50 officers, members and guests were in attendance at the Hingyon satellite office dedication rites. The office is located at sitio Lohot of Barangay Piwong.
Earlier in the day, board directors and general manager Godfrey Dominong discussed several programs, projects and activities of the cooperative. The meeting was held just two weeks before the IGEMCO’s general assembly in Lagawe was scheduled. The top-level meeting focused on expanding the benefits for Hingyon’s growing populace, fueling a new generation of commercial and trade and sustainable economic growth.
“We are committed to give the best services to the people, most especially the poor and the needy. We want to translate the massive success of the IGEMCO by establishing more satellite offices. Hence, this new office in Hingyon,” Dominong said.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, engineer Julio Tindungan said the decision of IGEMCO to put up a satellite office in this strategically-located predominantly agricultural town is timely and commendable to boost its presence here and to serve middle and low-income earners.
“Cooperative leaders in Ifugao such as Mr. Dominong have started to integrate many of their projects into social enterprise development to mitigate poverty incidence,” he pointed out.
Tindungan, who is a resident of Hingyon, is a member of IGEMCO. A major pillar of the IGEMCO, he is largely responsible for a number of well-meaning projects in the province. He practiced his profession in the United States for several years. He became imbued with social ideas for the betterment of the masses upon returning home.
On the other hand, Piwong Kagawad Antonia Lacgawan Pedro Inhumang underscored the key relationship of the public and private sectors in propelling growth and development in the grassroots level.
“As it is part of the government’s commitment to curb poverty incidence, the Piwong Barangay Council partners with IGEMCO to better serve our people in the delivery of basic services,” he said.
Dominong said the satellite office expansion program is expected to generate employment opportunities in local communities.
He said his vision for a satellite office is “to create a place where goods and services at the main office in Lagawe are also readily available thus, shared to others, and at the same time to educate Filipinos about the cooperative movement.”
Presently, IGEMCO maintains satellite offices in Lamut, also in Ifugao, and Diffun, Quirino province.
IGEMCO is a duly-registered cooperative and has over 7,000 members. It prides itself in offering a wide range of programs, services and products to members, principally disadvantaged Filipinos in rural communities. It also provides loans with easy terms and conditions.
Others who took part in the two-hour program included Pastor Roni Gumatin, Evangeline Ayangwa, Adoracion Boclog, Filomeno Hawete, Christine Kimmayong, Betty Pegew and Betty Yogyog.
Dominong, one of the most hardworking cooperative leaders in Ifugao, and IGEMCO board directors said LGU revenue shares, which are given in the form of real property taxes to the municipal government “are intended to augment local resources and enable stakeholder municipal governments to undertake development projects for the people.”
Taxes accrued for office rent payments benefit a lot of people in contiguous municipalities like Hingyon, a fourth-class farming town where Ifugao Governor Pedro Mayam-o hails from. Coincidentally, Governor Mayam-o has expressed confidence in the development initiatives of IGEMCO.
In a related development, Governor Mayam-o vowed to provide the support necessary for IGEMCO to expand outside the capital town of Lagawe.
“The Filipino spirit of entrepreneurship gives the IGEMCO the impetus to rise after so many challenges,” said Mayam-o, also a lawyer and highly-qualified go-to-official in elevating Ifugao’s cooperatives to greater heights. **By Anthony A. Araos
