A Closer Look on the San Joaquin Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Compiled by: Jacqueline L. De LeonGraphics by ARD Jo Bitonio

Cooperative Development AuthoityJanuary 2012

The San Joaquin Multi-Purpose Cooperative was originally a barangay-based cooperative formed primarily to serve the people within the locality comprising mostly of farmers. It was formally organized in March 1984 with the initiative of a two ordinary farmers, the late Celso G. Rasalan & late Camilo B. Rasos Sr. (the founders) through the assistance of the Provincial Cooperative Development Office under the Dept of Agriculture.

Its initial paid-up capital was P17,200.00 contributed by 17 incorporators most of whom were members of the defunct Samahang Nayon. Then on May 10, 1984, it was finally registered with the then Bureau of Cooperative Development with the name, San Joaquin Samahang Consumers Cooperative Inc. under Certificate of Registration No. RI-FF-086.

It all started as just a consumer’s store and for quite a while, the Cooperative operated accordingly with the business plan. However, in 1987, it was observed that farmers tend to borrow capital from loan sharks. The Officers, as sensitive as ever to the needs of the members, resolved for the creation of a Credit Department that accepts Savings and Time Deposits at an interest rate more competitive than average commercial banks. Thus, indirectly savings mobilization and Capital Build-up is a common problem to all coops was neutralized.

It also offers providential and agricultural loans at minimal rates slowly eradicating the usurers that has been sucking the blood of these poor farmers. Simultaneously, its scope of operation extended to the adjacent barangay. This vital transformation created an impact in the locality particularly the way of living of the people. They have realized that teamwork and solidarity, if coupled with discipline and perseverance can build roads and bridges.

With these developments in so short a time, the Board of Directors, in anticipation of further changes and developments, proposed for major amendments in the by-laws. And so, in the General Assembly of March 1988, the members unanimously approved the proposed amendment of the by-laws and converted its name to San Joaquin Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SJMPC). So, on March 2, 1991, its new identity was finally confirmed by the Cooperative Development Authority.

The Credit Department gained tremendous popularity in the community, membership had increased phenomenally. This paved the way for the formulation of control measures to protect the interest of the cooperative. Soon, the Cooperative adopted the standard operating procedure of banking institutions enforcing all types of loans to be backed-up by collaterals which eventually is appraised and religiously checked by its own Loan Collector/Appraiser.

As the Cooperative developed and expanded, the members’ “basic needs” seemed to increase enormously. This time, they wanted a gasoline station to be established. As the saying goes, “if there is a will, there is a way.” Applying in all the oil companies in the country, the cooperative was armed only with one thing, its quest for growth and development. But who would believe in a small rural-based organization ran by farmers? Only the Caltex Philippines did, and so the Gasoline Station Department was put up.

The San Joaquin MPC certainly created an image of worthy of trust and confidence from the public. Being proactive and creative, the Cooperative slowly etched its name in the archives of cooperativism.

In 1990, the Department of Agriculture granted the SJMPC a Solar Drier under the former’s Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development (LEAD) program. Later, this grant would play a major role in the conceptualization of a new business particularly Palay Trading and Rice Milling to maximize the utilization of this drier which are absolutely imperative to a community whose primarily source of living is farm tilling.

As the Gasoline Department became the top grosser of the Cooperative, the need to have its own Hauling Tanker was figured out. The only problem then was capital. To solve this problem, it offered higher savings and time deposits compared to commercial banks. Thus, the cooperative is now slowly affirming its role and underscoring its mission threatening unscrupulous capitalists.

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From then on, there was never a year to relax for the SJMPC as it pursued community growth and development. In 1991, a warehouse was constructed in a 542 square meter-lot that was acquired for One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00). Through the self-help (free-labor) of the members, the edifice was erected. After which, a six-wheeler ELF truck was procured to haul and deliver farmer’s products particularly palay. The Cooperative was then accredited by the National Food Authority

In 1992, SJMPC was awarded as the Most Outstanding Multi-Purpose Coop in Region I. The following year 1993, a Certificate of Recognition from CDA National Level was received at the same time, awarded as 2nd Placer, Outstanding Entrepreneurial Coop, National Level by the CDA.

The year 1993 was a very remarkable year in the annals of the San Joaquin Multi-Purpose Cooperative. It was during this year that its economic impact was felt not only within the community but also reverberated throughout the country. Unexpectedly, with the support and trust of the Municipal Agricultural Office, who became SJMPC’s nominator, the Cooperative was adjudged as OUTSTANDING SMALL FARMERS/FISHERFOLKS ORGANIZATION and a runner-up in the PARANGAL NG NEPA in the National Category. With these achievements, the SJMPC received a cash award of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) that was eventually used to purchase a Satake Cono Ricemill.

DIVERSITY IS OUR FOCUSED, ATTENDING TO MEMBERS’ NEEDS FOR THEIR SATISFACTION, CONTRIBUTING TO SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT & RESPONSIVE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS”

This turnaround had cemented the relationship between the SJMPC and the Municipal Agriculture Office. The latter’s trust with the former was retaliated with unparalleled zest and fervor in the implementation of its projects, i.e. Tilapia Culture, Mahogany Tree Planting, Mango Propagation, Cattle Fattening and other related livelihood projects.

In 1994, as the Cooperative continued to grow and its membership multiplied by folds, a Consumer’s Store- Branch and a Koop-Drug were established in front of the Sarrat Public Market.

In 1995, a generator was bought to combat the rampant power failures that proved to be a menace not only to the Cooperative but also to the entire business community.

July 10, 1996. A fully air-conditioned office building was completed just beside the gasoline station. This new office where member-depositors & borrowers were accommodated was equipped with computers to facilitate transactions that seemed to have increased by the days. In December of that same year, an XLT-Service Car was acquired.

The Cooperative truly has ventured in almost every business that the members basically need. But as an evidence of its discontentment, its Directors proposed a line of business everybody hates to patronize. A FUNERAL PARK! So, at the 2nd Quarter of 1998, the development of the proposed MEMORIAL PARK began.

Sometimes, these endeavors, have not always met with the full approval of the members. But with the management’s use of the different tools in determining the feasibility of these ventures, they seemed to possess the magic touch of King Midas proving to unbelievers that they were wrong, expunging every trace of skepticism that went before these projects became operational.

As a proof that the government extols the achievements of ordinary citizens, the cooperative posted an award winning-streak that is yet to be surpassed among cooperatives in the Province. Here are some:

August 1998. The Department of Agriculture through the Land Bank of the Philippines awarded a SHEGA III Moisture tester to the Cooperative.

In October 1998, the SJMPC was awarded Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) and a Plaque of Recognition by the Cooperative Development Authority for being chosen as the country’s Most Outstanding Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

That same month, the Cooperative was given a Certificate of Appreciation by the Cooperative Union of the Philippines, Certificate of Outstanding Achiever and Five Thousand Pesos(P5,000.00) in cash by the CDA-DEO.

As the Fiscal Year was about to end, in compliance to requirement of Caltex Phils. Safety Regulations, a New Hauling Tanker (14k lits capacity) was acquired. Also, a multi-cab was purchased partially out of the NFA-Cooperative Development Incentive Fee.

The cooperative, represented by its Chairman, Mr. Celso Rasalan, culminated the year by availing a loan worth One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) from the Land Bank of the Philippines for additional working capital that would supplement existing finances to meet the demands of the ever business minded BOD’s of the SJMPC in the coming years,. Likewise to establish a relationship with the pro-coop bank institution in the country, particularly the Land Bank of the Philippines. During this year, the coop was also awarded as the Leading Primary Cooperative in Region I.

Few years after, the Land Bank of the Philippines noticed the financial growth and performance of the Coop, thereby it became one of the Gawad Pitak National Contenders in 2000. Since then, the San Joaquin MPC never misses to receive awards from various agencies every year. To name a few, 2001 Special Award for being an Outstanding Primary Coop given by CDA, National level; 2001 & 2002 Ist Runner Up-Best Coop by LBP-Integrated Rural Financing; 2001 4th Placer Outstanding Agri-MPC by CDA Nat’Level; 2002 3rd Placer Outstanding Agri-MPC, CDA Nat’l Level; in 2004 Loyalty Award by Coop Union of the Phils.

With more than a decade of fruitful existence, the Cooperative never stops in pursuing its goals: SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE AND TO THE COMMUNITY. A bank-like operation was installed thru the assistance of the Land Bank of the Philippines. A teller cage was donated to formalize its operations, resulting to more member-depositors and borrowers.

So, in 2003, the Loans & Savings Department was relocated to the newly constructed 2-storey building fully furnished and equipped to be able to accommodate better its clienteles. The second floor serves as a multi-purpose hall: a venue for meetings, conferences, trainings & seminars and to accommodate visitors who are having their Lakbay-Aral. Likewise, this multi-purpose hall is being used by the Education & Training Committee for their monthly Pre-Membership Education Seminars where prospective members are educated with their duties and responsibilities that would make them cooperative worthy. Also trainings that focus in the enhancement of skills of individual and associate members, their beneficiaries, the management & officers are periodically conducted.

Twenty years forward, members are now socially & financially equipped, the cooperative entered into new ventures, it was accredited as the first cooperative distributor of San Miguel Beer Products and Coca Cola Products. Haulers, delivery elf and routing trucks were purchased. Additional manpower were hired, thus unemployment problem on the country was partially solved.

In these new ventures, SJMPC showed exemplary performance again. In the year 2006, SJMPC was awarded as Top 2 SMB Dealer for-Central North Luzon Area & for 2007 Top 1 SMB Dealer for Central North Luzon Area respectively. Then in 2007 Excellence Award was given by CDA-Dagupan Extension Office; And for the past 5 consecutive years, that is from 2005 to 2009, SJMPC was a Gawad Pitak Awardee ranked 4 th

placed; 3rd placed; 4th placed; 2nd placed & 2nd placed again for 2009. On the year 2011, when the San Joaquin MPC received the Hall of Fame Award by Land Bank of the Philippines Gawad Pitak. Another award received for the year 2011 was the CDA Gawad Parangal as regional nominee in the national level.

Out of the Gawad Pitak Prizes received from LBP with a sum of 1.525M, the Cooperative was able to modernized its recording systems and procedures through acquisition of computer units, receipt and passbook printers. The Marketing Center & Coca Cola Sales Office was constructed and a Forklift for the Coca Cola and San Miguel Beer Dealership was acquired. From the 2008 Gawad Pitak Prize, (second placer), an expansion of the Marketing Center was constructed to accommodate more inventories. And for the latest Gawad Pitak Prize (second placer) for 2009, the Cooperative was able to purchase a digital fuel dispenser for the gasoline station. These facilities acquired were just the fruits of the concerted efforts and sacrifices of the officers, management staff and the general membership.

San Joaquin MPC does not focus only on business operations but also concerns for the community. These concerns for the welfare of people in the community are expressed through health and nutrition program, gift giving to indigents, relief operations for typhoon victims, scholarship grants to poor but deserving children of members, school support to selected school pupils and peace and order campaign. The Coop is also an advocate of environmental preservation through tree planting activities, donation of garbage cans, clean up drives, recycling education and promotions of the use of organic fertilizers. It also supports the local government units through sponsorship to different festivities and programs in the area.

As a practitioner of the seven principles of cooperativism, it carries out cooperation among cooperatives through technical and marketing assistance to fellow primary cooperatives. Affiliations and linkages to secondary, tertiary coops, government organizations and non-government organizations served as its stronghold in its development.

The San Joaquin MPC values education. Officers and Staff are sent to seminars, conferences, team shops and trainings to upgrade their skills and capabilities. Lakbay Aral is also conducted to various successful coops and institutions in nearby provinces.

Today, with the cooperative efforts from its highly competent BOD’& different Committee Members, forty four motivated and efficient Management Staffs and of course a very supportive membership, the San Joaquin MPC have metamorphosed from a mere consumer’s store to a multi-line business that is expanding in response to the demands of its constituents. Its total assets have ballooned to P121,766,959.27, Share Capital to P20,855,162.42, and its membership to 3,039 as of December 31, 2011.