E-KWENTO February 2019 1
W hat started as an association of transport workers and operators, the Carmen Drivers
and Conductors Transport Multi-purpose Cooperative or CADCO grew to be the only
vulcanizing and auto repair business in Carmen, Cebu through the years. What begun
as just a group of drivers and conductors suddenly became one of the Regional Awardees of
Kabuhayan Awards – the BWSC’s award giving body for the best DOLE-assisted livelihood projects.
The CADCO was established in 1991 as an organization for small transport workers and operators. In
1994, it was registered as a credit cooperative with the Cooperative Development Authority, which
then has ventured into a business of selling spare parts and diesel among its members for a
discounted rate, and eventually to a vulcanizing and auto repair shop.
In 2013, Mr. Abelardo Capangpangan, Chairman of CADCO, learned about the DOLE Integrated
Livelihood Program (DILP) through a training for transportation operators. The group availed of the
livelihood assistance amounting to ₱163,000.00 in 2013. This amount was used to buy tire changer,
compressor, battery charger and welding machine to set up their vulcanizing and auto repair
business. In 2018, the group was again granted
financial assistance amounting to ₱999,966.75 to
purchase another tire changer, tire building machine,
mechanic machines, compressors and assembling
tools.
As an organization, the CADCO is solid and efficient.
It is the only group that offers such services in the
area so competition is not a problem. Thus, in 2017,
the group became a Regional Awardee during the
Kabuhayan Awards (awarding of the best DOLE-
assisted Livelihood Projects) in recognition of its
efforts to make an impact among its members and
the community.
Insert Kabuhayan Award Photo
Mr. Capangpangan with DOLE officials and
partners during the awarding ceremony
E-KWENTO February 2019
EDITORIAL BOARD
Chairperson: Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla
Editor-in-Chief:
Managing Editor:
Content :
404-3336, 527-5856, 527-3097 Telefax: 527-5858
www.bwsc.dole.gov.ph
http://www.facebook.com/bwsc.dole
2
The systematic process of the association is also commendable. The cooperative has an internal
bookkeeper who is a Certified Public Accountant and a member who maintains their budget and
accounts.
According to the members, the project helped in providing
employment to the people of Carmen, as well as an additional
income to the members. Some of their conductors have
advanced into welders and vulcanizers, all thanks to the
equipment bought through the funds from the DILP.
Mr. Aga Tococong, tireman for 2 years, expressed his gratitude
towards the program, as well as his future plans. He said,
“Nakaipon ako ng pera para sa pagbubuntis ng asawa ko, sa
panganganak niya. Plano ko din mag-training para sa ibang
gawain dito. Gusto ko din maging driver, driver ng mini bus dito”.
Mr. Capangpangan proudly remarked that their organization’s enterprise has been sustained through
the years due to its good resource management practices.
What makes them a pride of Carmen is their continuous
effort to improve their lives. With the importance of fuel in
their business and thinking of its market potential, the
CADCO is planning on engaging into fuel distribution. In
fact, they already started with one unit of fuel pump using
a loaned capital. This reflected the cooperative’s passion,
motivation and willingness to take risks.
As Ernest Hemingway would have put it, “There is
nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true
nobility is being superior to your former self”. And with the
DILP to help them, this quote rings true in different forms.
CADCO members with the DOLE Cebu Personnel and
BWSC Monitoring Team
Mr. Aga Tococong, Tireman