LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – For a cooperative to be successful, competent and dedicated officers are needed. A cooperative will not operate efficiently unless it is guided by good and capable officers. Thus, members look into the performance of their officers if the cooperative is to become strong and consequently, stays on the right track of achieving its noteworthy goals. This is what a cooperative is all about.
Many are encouraged by the “success story” recorded by the Ifugao Multi-Purpose Development Cooperative (IMDC). Without the hard work and dedication of manager Ignacio Bunolna and Board of Directors (BOD) chairperson Jennelyn Bilog, the IMDC has no reason to gather this month for an all-important occasion.
All told, the IMDC conducted recently a well-attended general assembly and election of officers program for the year 2019 in Lagawe, Ifugao.
Founded in 1995, the IMDC has 204 members. It is based in this capital town.
Members elected two directors as well as members of the audit and election committees. The two newly-elected directors filled up the powerful five-seat BOD. Prior to the program, Luzviminda Nayao, Peter Puh-hay, Moises Matabye and Faustino Balajo also served as members of the BOD.
In this light, the activity was a success.
Many others contributed to the program’s resounding success. Dominga Banham and bookkeeper Cryselle Cay-uhen also actively took part in the day-long activity. Unknown to many, both provide quick, efficient and accurate service at the office. A number of members went home with prizes from a raffle draw.
The cooperative offers microfinance services to members and the public. Microfinance has been identified as one of the measures to help poor Filipinos engage in livelihood or entrepreneurial ventures. Membership fee is 100 pesos along with the minimum shared capital requirement of 5,000 pesos to avail of the benefits of the cooperative.
The IMDC is located at the national highway, particularly at purok Banao of Barangay Poblacion East. It has four personnel.
Like other cooperatives in the province, the IMDC is expected to expand and unload other vital services to the people in the years to come.
Presently, a number of cooperatives in Ifugao struggle to remain afloat and effective because of the difficult economic times as well as problems related to mismanagement, thus, would be seen to be in danger of failing completely.
Fortunately, the IMDC is supported by many in the private sector.
While the national government has been supportive of the cooperative movement in Ifugao, there is little support from the provincial and even municipal governments. Henceforth, the lesson is clear: Nobody will help the cooperative except its own people.
A cooperative plays a key role in supporting economic growth. Cloaked in the mantra of “a government of the people, by the people and for the people,” incoming officials of Ifugao by 2019 should be sensitive to the needs of the province’s cooperatives. Giving them a voice in the decision-making process and policy formulation is essential. If not, gains registered by the cooperatives will be swept under the rug in a matter of time.
Sadly, a number of municipal and provincial government officials here are not even knowledgeable of the fact that a cooperative is a major economic growth driver in the nation by creating jobs and supporting the government’s community development programs.
Members got a briefing on financial condition of the cooperative as well as its programs, projects and activities. Presentation, discussion and approval of reports and the cooperative’s budget, declaration of dividends and explanation of patronage refund were given ample time during the business proper portion of the program. The budget of the IMDC is important in that it affects the much-needed funds for the cooperative’s development program. To date, the IMDC is strictly following its mandate of providing reliable and sustainable financial services to members through innovative programs.
All these can be traced to the dedication to duty of IMDC officers.
The program indeed showed that the officers received more and valuable support from the members.
Now, the members are enjoying the benefits of the cooperative’s services.
Overall, IMDC members and officers were overwhelmed and in high spirits because they were able to meet and engage with one another.
At the program, members expressed the hope that with the time and energy on their side, the IMDC will sustain the excellent services for 2019 and beyond. Toward this end, there is a need to broaden the availability of its microfinance services as well as regular and emergency loans. What is the level of knowledge of the people on microfinance? Information on this matter is not disseminated well to the people.
An Ifugao woman who wanted to find a better life seeks assistance for a computer shop she is planning to set up. But no opportunity came her way, so she availed of the microfinance program. Now, she is in better straits. Huge earnings are supporting the needs of her family.
For the most part, officers should zealously implement programs of the cooperative in order to address problems of mass poverty and underdevelopment in the Philippines. More so in Ifugao since it is one of the poorest provinces in the country.
“Our program sets out in detail the necessary mechanisms in helping members to improve their lives,” Ignacio said.
“Officers and our hardworking personnel are always helpful in attending to the public’s inquiries and needs and we see no need to act otherwise,” Ignacio told the ZigZag Weekly.
“This is for the satisfaction of all concerned,” he added.
“I am so proud of what the IMDC has accomplished. It has attended to the needs of our members,” Ignacio said.
The cooperative posted solid gains in recent years, thus, it grew significantly. Often, “major gains” of a cooperative relate to revenue increases. The IMDC has a net asset of 8 million pesos. Today, it is striving hard to consistently deliver best value services at all times. The point simply is, even not-so-large cooperatives as this one should always look for more opportunities and gain new members in places outside of Lagawe. The IMDC should pursue to push for development outside Lagawe, which would help promote inclusive growth.
The Ifugao Multi-Purpose Development Cooperative has truly become a more attractive option where to invest one’s hard-earned money. “We shall continue to look into the concerns of our members,” Ignacio pointed out.
Ignacio explained that the IMDC is still growing and a major breakthrough will take longer to happen.**By Anthony A. Araos
