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

mail@bwsc.dole.gov.ph

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