About Us

The Barbaza Multi-Purpose Cooperative...

Barbaza MPC Main Office

The coming of the Mill Hill Missionary priests to Antique had improved the living condition of the poor people of the province. They aimed not only to Christianize, to educate, by establishing private secondary school but to help augment the life of the people by founding Credit Unions – a cooperative way of helping solve financial problems. Observing that poverty was the great problem of Barbazeños and there’s no other organization nor institution that will help the people to be economically sufficient, Rev. Fr. John Tielen, the curate of the town, organized his fifteen (15) parochial leaders to form a Credit Union on July 20, 1964 having an initial capital of Six Hundred Twenty Five pesos (625.00). Rev. Fr. Gerardus Johannes Pijnapple, parish priest of Laua-an and Credit Union Coordinator of Bishop Cornelio de Wit, spearheaded the conduct of trainings and seminars with the help of technical assistants from the Netherland to the pioneer cooperators namely, Soledad Barrientos, Gideon Yongque Sr., Jovita Nacionales, Jose Tingson Sr., Roman Bautista, Jose Andres Sr., Estanislao Inocentes (Treasurer), Tomas Dela Cruz (Secretary), Jose Alavata, Antonio Barrientos, Fidel Yongque Sr., Vicente Amabran, Vicente Magtulis, Romeo Nacionales, and Fr. John Tielen. Mr. Jose Andres Sr. was the first President from 1964 to 1965 and the temporary office was under the convent operating a paluwagan-like credit system. After a year, Mr. Gideon Yongque Sr. was elected chairman during its first General Assembly. His term lasted for eleven years, from 1965 to 1976.

Culasi Branch

On May 20, 1965, it was registered with the Bureau of Cooperative Development bearing the name Barbaza Credit Cooperative Union, Inc. (BCCUI), then with the Department of Local Government and Community Development (DLGCD) under a 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.

San Jose Branch

Under the decade of staying under the convent, BCCUI was transferred to the Multi-Purpose Building of the Municipal Government having free rental, during the leadership of the late Mayor Carlo Magno Gindap. At the midst of operation of the BCCUI, Barbaza Kilusang Bayan sa Pamimili, Inc. (BKBPI) was organized through the initiative of the Board sometime in 1976. Several managers was hired for KBPI with Mr. Amadeo Yongque as the longest Manager while Ms. Majelende Yongque served the BCCUI as part time and later a full time manager until she retired on December 31, 1992. In 1989, Palay trading and post harvest facilities were started after Mr. Jose I. Inocentes during his chairmanship purchased a lot in Barangay Ipil wherein Mr. Adolfo Yongque, the BOD Member is the one holding its operation. Come 1992, BCCUI and BKBPI was consolidated to form the Barbaza Multi-Purpose Cooperative. The registration was re-confirmed by CDA on September 11, 1992. This was made possible through the majority decision of the General Assembly and its management staff was all absorbed.

 

On January 16, 1994 Mr. Felimon Espares was hired manager after retirement of Miss Majelende Yongque. Because of the best efforts of the Management, BMPC was able to purchased a lot in Brgy. Cubay to serve as its new home and occupied on August 3, 1997 with its second floor was inaugurated on March 2003. With the dynamic and energetic leadership, BMPC was able to provide entertainment to Barbazeños through its cable tv services on January 18, 1998. Later on, it was extended to Laua-an on November 17, 2000 and Bugasong on joint venture with Bugasong MPC on April 5, 2001 and recently on Patnongon MPC for Patnongon and Belison Towns on February 22, 2003. Amendments of By-laws was approved by CDA on June 24, 2002 to operate provincial wide which made BMPC to open its lending programs in nearby towns. The Culasi Branch Office was opened on March 2004, Sibalom Branch Office on July 2007 and San Jose Branch on September 20, 2008.

Sibalom Branch

As affiliate of Antique Federation of Cooperatives (AFCCUI), Visayas Cooperative Development Center (VICTO) and Philippine Central Fund (PCF), National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), BMPC enhanced its networking opportunities and developmental direction; hence innovation to expand and efficiency were employed. As of December 2009, the total membership is 3,656 Associate, 6,569 Regular with paid-up capital of Php 40 million and total assets of Php  179 million with 42 staff. The services are Lending, Savings/Time Deposits, Cable TV, Marketing, Mortuary System, Otoshiami, Gender and Youth Advocacy and Western Union.

Guided by its vision, mission and adopting COOP-PESOS standard, Barbaza Multi-Purpose Cooperative is paving the way towards transforming and empowering the community.