WOMEN’S COOPERATIVE IS NO. 1

MAPANDAN—Seven housewives whose aim was simply to augment their husbands’ income for their families have found themselves making a difference in the lives of not only 32 women at first but subsequently hundreds more.

Their journey started when the group they initially joined that promised livelihood training disbanded.

Determined to pursue their objective, Anabel Meneses of Mapandan town gathered her friends in the neighborhood and organized the Women’s Unity for Progress Association with 32 members.

The first three years was a struggle. Fortunately, the provincial government, through the Provincial Livelihood Assistance Program (PLAP), acknowledged their efforts and provided them training on organization mechanics, teambuilding, leadership, basic bookkeeping, values formation and leadership.

Soon, the association gained momentum and more women and farm workers from neighboring towns enlisted as members.

In 2009, the group was endorsed as a cooperative and renamed Women’s Unity for Progress and Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (WUPF MPC) and male farmers were accepted as members.

Meneses said they were reluctant initially to reorganize as a cooperative because none of them had pursued higher education. The paperwork and all the coordination required appeared daunting.

“Then na-realize namin, hindi po kakulangan na wala kang pinag-aralan o wala kang diploma para ma-reach natin ang gusto nating marating o mangyari para sa grupo. As long as tama ang focus mo at hangarin,” Meneses said.

The cooperative’s office also took five years to take roots. It started with just a roof and four posts until their earnings enabled them to buy cement and hollow blocks to build a respectable office.

Nixon Amorada, livelihood development assistance section head of the Provincial Population Office, said Women’s Unity MPCI is one of the most successful women’s groups with a 100-percent repayment rate on loans.

“Isinabuhay talaga nila ang natutunan nila about women empowerment. Nag-effort talaga sila para umangat,“ said Amorada, who used to be the field coordinator along with Leticia Pedeglorio.

With its good coop standing, more financial assistance was eventually offered by Land Bank of the Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and Pangasinan Credit Surety Fund.

The Department of Agrarian Reform also provided more training and seminars with donations of farm equipment, water pumps, kuliglig and rice thresher.

Soon, the coop became the first to receive the Small Livelihood Project of the Philippine Rural Development Project in Region 1.

The group also received a a four-wheel tractor, rotavator, trailer and cage roller from the provincial government. that enabled them to reduce the plowing cost per hectare from the prevailing price of ₱4,500 to ₱2,500 and hauling cost of farmers from ₱1,300 to ₱975.

“Noong nag-uumpisa pa lang, pinagtatawanan kami sa barangay, sa munisipyo at kung saan-saan. Sabi nila, andyan na naman yang mga mag-sosolicit. Ngayon, dahil naipakita namin ang kahalagahan ng aming samahan, kami na ang pinupuntahan,” Meneses said.

For immediate needs of members, they could take out a loan as much as ₱100,000.

From a ₱25 savings and per capital share of each member in 2004, the Women’s Unity Coop now has a total share capital of ₱1.6 million and total assets of ₱14.54 million.

The coop also ranked number one in the Information Technology Enhanced Maturity Assessment of DAR in the province and ranked fifth in Region I.

And the secret for their success? Chairman Anabel said: “Ang coop dapat may puso, you have to treat your fellow officers and members in the proper way.  It’s not always about money and profit,” Meneses said. (PIA-Pangasinan/ VHS)

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