Early
Struggles
Barbaza
is a fourth class municipality in the province of Antique where major sources
of income of the people are agriculture,
fishing, trade and commerce and where major concerns are financial constraints,
cheap labour and no market opportunity. Despite
its positive prospects in economic development, it seriously confronted with
the continuing problems of poverty and income inequality. Income inequality
comes in two dimensions - the inequality among classes (or the poor becoming
poorer and the rich becoming richer) and inequality among regions (or the poor
regions are being left behind by the fast paced development of the richer
urbanized regions). Observing that poverty was the greatest problem of the people and
there’s no other organization nor institution that may help them to become
economically sufficient, Barbazeño desires to uplift their quality of life
amidst financial crisis and they never cease being optimistic that their municipality
and its people will achieve greater heights in terms of economic status.
The Fore-Founders
Concerned
on fulfilling their missions to touch the lives of the poor and to Christianize
the people in the community and establish parochial secondary schools, the Mill
Hill Missionaries initiated to organize a credit union in Barbaza, a central
town in the province of Antique. The coming of the Mill Hill Missionaries who
has a sublime intention to improve the living condition of the poor people of
the province has paved the way for Barbazeños to aspire on becoming
economically sufficient by way of organizing a Credit Union - a cooperative way
of helping solve financial problems. Such initiative was intended to teach the
members to save and help them meet their financial needs by means of saving and
thriftiness. Rev. Fr. John Tielen, curate of the town, organized his fifteen
(15) parochial leaders to form a credit union on July 20, 1964 with an initial
capital of Six Hundred Twenty-Five Pesos (P 625.00)
The
Fledgling Cooperative
Rev.
Fr. Gerardus Johannes Pijnapple, parish priest of Laua-an and Bishop Cornelio
de Wit, Diocesan Credit Union Coordinator with the help of Technical Assistants
from the Netherlands conducted trainings and seminars on cooperatives to equip
with the knowledge and skills the pioneer members, namely: Soledad Barrientos,
Gideon Yongque, Sr., Jovita Nacionales, Jose Tingson, Sr., Roman Bautista, Jose
Andres Sr., Estaneslao Innocentes (Treasurer), Tomas dela Cruz (Secretary),
Jose Alavata, Antonio Barrientos, Fidel Yongque Sr., Vicente Amabran, Vicente
Magtulis, Romeo Nacionales and Rev. Fr. Tielen, This gave a mixture of
cooperative philosophy and practical advice about running a cooperative imbibed
with its principles. In 1964-1965, the credit union with Mr. Jose Andres, Sr.
as the first President and having an office under the parish convent operated a
“paluwagan ”-like credit system. During its first General Assembly, Mr. Gideon
Yongque was elected as Chairman and his term lasted for eleven years (1965-
1976).
Towards
Carving its Niche
On
May 20, 1965, it was registered with the Bureau of Cooperative Development
bearing the name, Barbaza Credit Cooperative Union, Inc. (BCCUI), then
re-registered with the Department of Local Government and Community Development
(DLGCD) under Certificate of Registration No. FF-170-RR on September 5, 1975
and eventually with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) under R.A. 6938
on March 27, 1991 with CDA confirmation No. ILO-C-096.
Business
Ventures
After
a decade of being housed under the convent, BCCUI office was transferred to the
municipal multi-purpose building for free, through the courtesy of the late
Mayor Carlo Gindap. In 1976, through the initiative of the Board of Directors
to cater the basic needs of the members, Barbaza Kilusang Bayan sa Pamimili,
Inc., a consumer store was opened. They surmised that by opening a consumer
store the members could build a society within a society realizing that people
go to a shop every day to buy food and prime commodities, why then should they
not go to their own shop? Managers were hired to take charge of the operations
and to serve better the members. Among them was Mr. Amadeo Yongque (BKBPI) who
served for quite a number of years and Ms. Majelende Yongque (BCCUI) who
retired on December 31, 1992. In 1989 with Mr. Jose Inocentes as the Chaiman, a
lot was purchased in Brgy. Ipil for palay trading and post harvest facilities
projects which goal is to empower and improve the lives of the farmers. Mr. Adofo
Yongque, one of the Board of Directors, who got a big heart for farmers managed
the project operations.
The
Milestones
In
1992, considering the varied services and programs offered and as approved by
the General Assembly, BCCUI and BKBPI were consolidated and renamed Barbaza
Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
All management staff was retained in the new structure. With the consolidation, the registration was confirmed by the CDA on
September 11, 1992.
On
Januay 16, 1994, Mr. Felimon Espares was hired as the Manager. He runs the
office up to the present, selflessly steering the wheel that paves the grandeur
of Barbza MPC. Through his resourcefulness, the Coop was able to purchase a lot
at Cubay,
Barbaza,
Antique where the magnificent main office is now situated. The main office was first occupied on August 3,
1997. This has opened more opportunities and increased
accessibility to members.
The leaps and bound growth and development of the Coop were the outcomes of
indefatigable patience,
diligence and intricate architecture by the current
General Manager in collaboration with the officers and through the support of
its members who share a common goal which is to wave the banner of BMPC high
and to continuously deliver quality service and make a difference not just in
the life of every member but in the community as well.
The Innovations
In their plight to meet the high
demand of modernization and technology, the coop ventured on Coop Cable TV
which provides subscribers with good reception of television signals. It was
inaugurated on January 18, 1998. With its increasing viability, CATV service
was expanded to the towns of Laua-an on November 17, 2000, Bugasong on April 5,
2001, Patnongon and Belison on February 22, 2003 and San Jose on September 18,
2008. The expansion project in Bugasong, and Patnongon was a joint venture with
the cooperatives of the respective towns. The Coop Cable TV was upgraded to
include Internet connections. Recently, the NTC authorized the Broadband Coop
CATV & Internet to serve the municipalities of Sibalom including San
Remegio and Hamtic. The project kept the members abreast with the latest news,
information, entertainment, and livelihood technology.
The Expansions
With the approval of the CDA on
the amended By-laws on June 24, 2002, the operation of the coop was expanded to
other towns. Culasi Branch was opened in
March 2004; Sibalom Branch in July 2007; San Jose Branch on September 2008;
Balasan, Iloilo Branch in August 15, 2010; Barotac Viejo, Iloilo on September
8, 2012; Caticlan, Malay, Aklan Branch on July 6, 2013, Molo Branch in Iloilo
City on May 18, 2014, and Kalibo Branch on January 10, 2015. The opening of the
nine branches has served more people and helped in their financial
difficulties. Barbaza MPC is on the right track toward the betterment of its
members’ lives.
Soaring high towards greater heights
In line with its efforts and
developmental directions, Barbaza MPC is an affiliate of the Antique Federation
of the Cooperatives (AFCCUI), FONUS Cooperatives Federation-Antique, Western
Visayas Alliance of Cooperatives (WVAC) Visayas Cooperative Development Center
(VICTO), Philippines Central Fund Federation (PCF) and the National
Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO).
As
of December 31, 2014, total members numbered to 38,508; paid up capital of P203
million; total assets of P769 million and 114 Management & Staff.
BMPC with its Flying Colors
True to its mission to deliver excellent programs
and services and promote cooperativism as a way of life, Barbaza MPC offers
various services: Lending, Savings/Time Deposits,
Cable TV/ Internet, Agricultural Marketing, Mortuary System, Otoshiami, Gender,
Youth, and Environment Advocacy, Money Transfer thru Western Union, Automated
Teller Machine (ATM), and Gas Refilling Station.
Moreover, it provides social
services such as Social Services that include Mortuary Assistance, Scholarship
Program, and Health Services such as medical and dental missions, Philhealth
Subsidy, Coop Blood Bank. Guided by its
vision, mission and adopting COOP-PESOS Standards, Barbaza Multi-Purpose
Cooperative, a multi-awarded coop, is paving the way towards transforming and
empowering communities- the reason for its birth!
