Duterte welcomes entry of Tagum Coop in the City

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte welcomed the entry in Davao City of one of the biggest cooperative in Mindanao, the Tagum Cooperative, with over 31,081 members spread out in the provinces of Tagum, Panabo and Davao, with a total asset of Php583.3-million.

The Tagum Cooperative, in one of its expansion program have established a satellite (branch) office located at McArthur highway (fronting NCCC mall), with Robert de Castro as its Davao Satellite Office branch manager.

In its formal inauguration Sunday, Davao City Development Cooperative head Engr. Jaime Adalin represented Mayor Duterte to grace the special occasion and read the inspirational speech of the Mayor.

“You (Tagum coop) have shown that Davao City is truly an investment haven and we are honored to have you to be part of the growing business community,” the speech of Mayor Duterte stated.

“The expansion of Tagum Cooperative (TC) services in Davao City is one potential area of partnership and complementation with our existing cooperative livelihood assistance program aimed at uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the cooperative members and their organization,” it stated.

For their part, TC Chairperson Antonio Arañas and TC Vice Chair Norma Pereyras both said that TC is committed to be partners with Davao City’s efforts for the city’s total development.

In an exclusive interview with Baby Gomez and Edith Isidro – both of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Manager de Castro said TC has also branch offices in Carmen, Davao Norte;Nabunturan, Comval province; and Buhangin, Davao City.

Manager de Castro said Buhangin branch is slated to transfer along Bajada by July this year to make the cooperative more accessible to the public.

As of end of March 2008, TC loan portfolio reached Php384.1-million; total deposits – Php289.5-million; Share Capital – Php156-million; and total net income – Php4.6-million.

We are proud to say that “TC has no external credit” and we have no loans nor borrowed anywhere else. This is the reason why TC can offer the lowest interest rates in members’ borrowings/loans, he said.

Official lists of Board members are: Antonio C. Arañas – Chairperson; Norma R. Pereyras – Vice Chairperson; and Directors: Nenita E. Lumaad, Atty. Celerina E. Esuerte, Nenita R. Malbas, Prudencio N. Mabanglo, and Evelia R. Sator.
Key Manager Officers are: Juris D. Perez – manager; Monica L. Salido – Treasurer; Atty. Rolando C. Casaway – legal counsel; and Hermarie Torreon-Esmael – BOD Recording Secretary. PIA/rbpalacio

Japan-ASEAN, ATI conducted International Training on Agricultural Marketing

Participants listened intently during the International Training Course on Agricultural Marketing (Focused on Cooperatives)

Under the Project for strengthening Partnership Among Japan and ASEAN Countries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) sponsored a 15-day International Training Course on Agricultural Marketing which was held on June 2-11, 2008 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Sasa, Davao City and from June 12-15, 2008 at Bayview Park Hotel, Metro Manila.

The implementer of this international training is the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI). The ATI is the training and educational arm of the Department of Agriculture. This training was conducted in relation to the implementation of the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) South-South Cooperation Project which focuses on Agricultural Productivity Enhancement in Developing Countries.

A total of 33 participants attended the said training. The participants came from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei Darusallam, and Philippines. Each country has three (3) participants composed of one (1) extension worker and two (2) member representatives of the cooperative sector and 12 (CDA-5; ATI-4; and LGUs-3) from Philippines being the host country.

The training aimed to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitudes of the participants on agricultural marketing focused on cooperatives.

To officially start the international training, an Opening Ceremony was done around 3:30-5:00 in the afternoon. The Hon. Rodrigo R. Duterte, City Mayor of Davao , Dir. Asterio P. Saliot and Asst. Dir. Alberto Maningding of DA-ATI, Center Dir. Richard C. Rubis of ATI-XI, and Edna Mabesa, Phd., chief of Agricultural Extension Academy (AEA) Division of ATI graced the occasion.

The course content included the following Modules: I - Philippine Cooperatives- A Situationer; II- Organizational Development and Strengthening of Cooperatives; III- Cooperative Governance; IV- Agricultural Marketing as a Cooperative Business, and V- Resource Mobilization. To ensure maximum learning, the following methodologies were adapted: lecture-discussion, brainstorming, workshops, structured learning exercises, report presentation, plenary sessions, experiential sharing and field trips.

The following competent resource persons discussed topics on their field of expertise, to wit; Ms. Lecira V. Juarez, chairperson of CDA Manila, Mr. JA Zenchu of Japan, Ms. Elma R. Oguis, assistant regional director of CDA-XI, Mr. Glenn S. Garcia, Mr. Antonio C. Ecobar, Ms. Margarita A. Bauto of CDA-XI, Ms. Nenita R. Malbas, president of CU-TE, Mr. Rodney Cordova of local government unit of Davao del Norte, Mr. Francisco A. Ramos, director of DA-AMAS, Engr. Vedastito C. Galvez, division chief of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Davao del Norte, Dr. Alexander M. Campaner, president SPAMAST, and Ms. Necitas S. Lazaga.

Part of the training was exposure of the participants in field learning activities and interaction with members, officers and management of a Marketing/Processing Cooperatives and Technology Farms at Magsaysay Cooperative and Bansalan Cooperative. Likewise, they visited CASMIDECO, Cavendish Banana Producer, to observe on the cooperative operations and services rendered and a field trip to BIAO MPC- a Banana Paper Making Consumers Cooperative at Matina, Davao City and of course, to include an environmental appreciation of Davao City.

Action Planning, Workshop on Action Plan Preparation, Presentation of Action Plan, and evaluation of the training was done at Bayview Park Hotel , Metro Manila. Also, a tour around the National Capital Region was also included in the scheduled field trips.

Agricultural cooperatives worldwide are confronted with new sets of issues and problems. The globalization of the world trade market makes the local farmers to compete with farm products imported from abroad. More so, the changes in the market structure coupled with the ever-changing consumer preferences leave the agricultural cooperatives groping for an efficient business strategies in an increasingly harsh economy.

The participants was expected to integrate their learning, observations and insights in their marketing and action plan output and will be implemented when they go back to their respective countries.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9th National Coop Summit

PIA Press Release
2008/04/02

Tagalog News: GenSan handa na sa gaganaping 9th National Coop Summit sa Oktubre

General Santos City (2 April) -- Inihayag ni Coralyn G. Espinosa City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office (CEMCDO) na handang-handa na ang lalawigan ng General Santos para sa 9th National Cooperative Summit sa darating na Oktubre 22-26 ng taong ito.

Kinumpirma din ni Espinosa ang pagdating ni dating Agriculture Secretary, Lead Convenor at Chairman ng Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC) Senen Bacani at CDA Chairperson Lerica V. Juarez sa lalawigan upang pangunahan ang paglagda ng Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at ceremonial launching ng 9th National Coop Summit ngayong araw.

Inaasahan din ang pagdalo nina GenSan City Mayor Pedro B. Acharon, Jr., Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez, South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes at Sultan Kudarat Governor Teng Mangudadatu sa nasabing aktibidad upang magbigay ng Message of Solidarity and Support ng Local Government Units ng SOCSKSARGEN.

Humigit kumulang sa limang libong cooperative leaders sa buong bansa ang inaasahang dadalo sa nasabing summit, isang nationwide activity na nagsisilbing forum sa lahat ng concern cooperatives kung saan layunin nito na mapag-isa ang resources para sa pagsulong ng self-reliance, harnessing people towards the attainment of economic development, social justice at global competitiveness. (Abbenal/PIA 12) [top]

The NATCCO Board of Directors (BODs) and Officers for 2008 and 2009

Engr. Jose R. Ping-ay
Chairperson
Luzon
Sta. Cruz Savings & Development Cooperative

Reynaldo Gandionco
Vice-Chairperson
Visayas
Fairchild Cebu Community Credit Cooperative

Evangeline A. Cedeño
Director
Mindanao
Sta. Ana Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Lilian Ester DJ. Lim
Director
Luzon
Novaliches Development Cooperative

Col. Artemio M. Jose
Director
Luzon
Five Star Credit & Development Cooperative

Chad P. Villamor
Director
Mindanao
MASS-SPECC

Aurea B. De Ramayo
Director
Visayas
Cordova Multi-Purpose Cooperative


Divina C. Quemi
Director
Luzon
Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives

Godofredo Lising, Jr.
Director
Luzon
Tagalog Cooperative Development

Wilfredo A. Dimamay
Director
Mindanao
MSU-IIT Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Norma R. Pereyras
Director / Women Representative
Mindanao
Tagum Cooperative

Rustico U. Galang, Jr
Director
Luzon
St. Martin of Tours Credit and Director Development Cooperative

Jeptah Domz J. Gines
Director /Youth Representative
Luzon
Sta. Cruz Development Cooperative

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------