LAGAWE, IFUGAO–The Lagawe Multi-Purpose Development Cooperative (LMDC) is among the best cooperatives not just in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), but throughout the country in terms of addressing the longstanding poverty problem.
In a well-attended program at The Tent in Villa Global South in Las Pinas on Dec. 13, 2019, the Villar Social Institute on Poverty and Governance (Villar SIPAG) conferred the prestigious Villar SIPAG Award on poverty reduction to the LMDC for “improving the lives of the marginalized.”
After the awards rites, the LMDC richly shared the distinction as the sole awardee of the CAR. Twenty-one other cooperatives received the award.
“We expect the award to ultimately inspire and motivate others to do their share in achieving the Villar SIPAG’s noteworthy goal of reducing poverty in the country,” an official said.
Villar SIPAG sees poverty in both urban and rural areas as a major problem in the country.
The award-giving organization nonetheless pointed out that a good number of cooperatives have been serious in the effort to undercut the poverty problem, most especially in the countryside.
This sentiment was echoed no less than by Sen. Cynthia Villar during the program.
According to a report of the World Bank, poverty incidence in the Philippines stood at 21.9 percent in 2018. It was attributed to slow growth productivity, lack of opportunities and unequal distribution of resources.
The report said that economic deprivation as manifested by inadequate job or livelihood opportunities is “prevalent in provinces.”
Ifugao is one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. The country has 81 provinces.
Since it started, LMDC has committed itself to promoting the welfare of the people, particularly those in the underprivileged sector, in order to meet its golden rule of improving the plight of the have-nots. Because of this, it gained prominence in the northern Luzon landscape due to the quality services and products it offered to the public.
General Manager and chief executive officer Charles Balachawe led the high-level LMDC delegation during the awards program.
“We’re truly honored and I hope we will be together in finding ways on how to solve the poverty problem and invariably improve the conditions of our people,” he told the ZigZag Weekly.
Over the years, the LMDC- under the strong stewardship of Balachawe, pursued successful ventures with their partners and allies in the government and private sectors. Collaborative programs and projects all described to be beneficial for short-term objectives and the distant future.
Balachawe actively and energetically employed unique and timely interventions to ensure a high rate of success of these undertakings.
Balachawe is widely known for his hard work, integrity and responsiveness to change.
For her part, Sen. Villar said that it is fitting to recognize and honor those “who made a difference in the lives of the poor.”
Villar said the Villar SIPAG thrust will extend a helping hand to a cooperative that “demonstrates the organization’s commitment to help protect our less fortunate brothers and sisters from the adverse effects of the high cost of living and unemployment.”
The Villar SIPAG wants its organization to serve consistently in terms of its appropriateness regarding the needs of the people, thus, is efficient and effective in connecting to the grassroots level.
LMDC officially received the award in t he presence of former Senate president Manny Villar, Public Works and Highways secretary Mark Villar and Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar.
Villar SIPAG also gave similar awards to KILUS Foundation Environmental Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Pasig City), Pag-asa ng Paglaya Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Munitnglupa City), Alliance of Landbank Assisted Cooperatives Federation of Cooperatives (Sta. Maria, Pangasinan), Watch Life Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Mariveles, Bataan), Shoreline Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran , Inc. (Naic, Cavite), Entrepreneurs Alumni Development Cooperative (Daraga, Albay), Association of Negros Producers, Inc. (Bacolod City, Negros Occidental), People’s Macro-Finance Corporation (Tumaga, Zamboanga City), King Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Davao City), Bigay Buhay (Building Lives) Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Quezon City), Caritas Margins Church Social Enterprise (Manila), Suyo Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Suyo, Ilocos Sur), Saint Joseph Multi-Purpose ooperative-Balancd (Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya), Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative (Tiaong, Quezon), Kooperatiba Naton Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Tigbauan, Iloilo), Abuyoig Saint Francis Xavier Cooperative (Abuyog, Leye), Labason Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Zamboanga del Norte), Manggagoy Fishermens’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Bislig, Surigao del Sur) and Mansalay Farmers and Fishermen Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Roxas, Oriental Mindoro).
After leaving the Ifugao Global Entrepreneurs Multi-purpose Cooperative (IGEMCO), Balachawe established the LMDC as he and other officers worked hard on programs, projects and activities geared to impact the future of their members.
Balachawe’s enterprising and pioneering efforts certainly were rewarded.
The most outstanding achievement thus far of Balachawe’s administration is associated with the fact that Mr. Balachawe touched base with members. He also energized the membership to a great extent.
When asked for comment, an officer of a cooperative from a town in the second district of the province said, “the Villar SIPAG award is a well-deserved one for the LMDC.”
Not a few other cooperatives in the CAR and northern Luzon hailed the feat of the LMDC and welcomed the development.
Many of these cooperatives are still grappling with petty matters such as year-end dividends distribution and general assembly schedules instead of key socio-economic issues affecting members.
What is the significance of the fact that the Villar SIPAG and LMDC are treading the same path for the people’s well-being? The collective efforts of these entities are what the citizenry needs to finally attain development in depressed communities. Fortunately, Villar SIPAG and LMDC are both genuinely committed to uplift the people’s living standards.
LMDC believes the Villar SIPAG supports its advocacy that a cooperative is important in propelling growth and development in the country, thus, helping to meet the goal of President Duterte of reducing the poverty rate to 14 percent by the end of his administration in 2022. **By Anthony A. Araos
