They
were twelve then, discussing about how they will earn money.
“What
if we’ll save one peso everyday?” one of them asked.
“Why
not?” seconded the other.
Thus,
they selected a treasurer among them to whom they entrusted their piso or the one peso share of each
other. Later, that piso rolls and
gets far. So far that it had provided jobs to eight unemployed, energetic and
smart youths. And still more individuals have been helped financially.
That
is the Salvacion Farmers’ Development Cooperative or SAFADECO for short. Way
back in 1992, they called their group as “Pag-oropod”,
a Bicol term for camaraderie. They are neighbor-farmers who peacefully live in
Barangay Salvacion, Sorsogon City, a part of Sorsogon ARC Cluster. After few
months, their one peso share got a total of Php1,000.00.
In those times, the Department of Agrarian
Reform is organizing the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs). A very good
timing for the Pag-oropod especially
when a diligent Development Facilitator from the Department of Agrarian Reform
Provincial Office of Sorsogon learned about their objective.
“She invited us to attend Pre-Membership
Education Seminar so that we’ll become an official organization under the
assistance of DAR,” said Tita Desquitado, one of the twelve pioneer members.
However,
collecting one peso per day takes too long to collect big amount. Thus, after attending
PMES, they thought of launching a raffle draw.
“We
just solicited to the employees of DAR whom we meet during the PMES for prizes.
Somebody gave a roll of textile. There was also a priest who donated a sack of
rice. Then we bought groceries for consolation prizes,” said Desquitado.
From
the raffle tickets, they earned Php17,000.00 which they kept in a Bank.
However, after a year, it only gained an interest of Php100.00.The group was
disappointed, so they rather venture the money in Rice Retailing.
Unfortunately, it was just borrowed by the members resulting in the very slow
return of investment. So they stop the Rice Retailing business and rather
venture in Relending. But the same thing happened. In their third time attempt to
use the money in business, they invested it in a variety store. By that time,
they were already twenty in the group but only fifteen of them are active.
These fifteen had contributed labor and construction materials for the store’s
structure. Eventually, their small business begins to gain.
The group was also an
awardee of 0.9094 hectares land wherein the Certificate of LandOwnership Award
(CLOA) was distributed on August 27, 1997 in the name of Teodoro Legazpi being
the caretaker of the said lot. “It was supposed to be in the name of Pag-Oropod,
but the then CARPO for Operations, Mr. Domingo Moros said that they should
designate a representative to act as caretaker. So, upon consultation to the
general assembly, the group decided to name it to Teodoro Legazpi who was then
their chairperson. They accompanied it with Compromise Agreement that whoever
will become the chairperson of their group shall be its care taker upon the
Board’s Resolution,” explained Ma. Theresa D. Salandanan, Agrarian Reform
Program Technologist / Development Facilitator.
In 2001, DAR was preparing them to be a
registered cooperative in CDA (Cooperative Development Authority). They were
given various trainings such as Simple Bookkeeping, Leadership Training,
Para-Technician Training, Participatory Area Planning, and Crop-Based Farming
Technology Seminar with tours to demo farms. These were sponsored by Agrarian
Reform Communities Project or ARCP, a foreign assisted project of DAR which was
being implemented in the province during those times.
Not long, they were renamed SAFADECO, to
identify them as farmers’ development cooperative in Salvacion. Then, the
variety store that they have established was named SAFADECO Sari-sari Store. As
a recipient of ARCP, DAR made its twelve members cooperators of Lakatan
Production wherein each one received one hundred twenty suckers and fertilizers.
Another four members became cooperators for Hog Raising, and eight became
cooperators for Sasso Chicken Production. These were handed to them along with
feeds. When the free feeds gone out, they saw the need to include this item in
their variety store. Thus, they added
feeds in their retail.
Moreover,
as the province of Sorsogon identifies itself to be the number one producer of
Pilinuts, the ARCP supported its promotion by launching the Pili Enhanced
Propagation and Orchard Development Project. Again, this project was entrusted
to SAFADECO. Later, fellow-farmers were able to get seedlings from it which
they planted in their backyard. Not only
in agri-business initiatives of ARCP did the coop benefited but also in
the construction of farm-to-market road in the ARC where the members of
SAFADECO obtained ten percent on their labor counterpart which was converted to
additional capital build up.
The
Barangay of Salvacion has two hundred fifty five (255) hectares of coconut land
which is much bigger than any other kind of agricultural land in the area.
Indeed, its primary agricultural product is copra. Thinking on how the SAFADECO
can help the copra farmers in the area, they put up Copra Trading. Thus, copra
producers within the ARC need no more to go far just to sell their produce.
SAFADECO’s purchased copras were delivered in Legazpi Oil where they profit
only twenty centavos per kilo. But that doesn’t matter if they profit only that
very small amount, their main purpose after all is to facilitate the copra
farmers in selling their produce. Anyway, the small amount when collected can
also become big.
In
2009, there was a Bicol Cooperative Congress held in Daet, Camarines Sur and
SAFADECO was awarded by CDA for being one of the One Hundred Cooperative Top Grossers
of the Year in Bicol Region.
Meanwhile, on July 10, 2012 the DAR Sorsogon
conducted Provincial DAR-NATCCO Micoop at Agrarian Reform Areas Partners
Forum. This is to help the ARBs to have
an access to credit. Although SAFADECO has no plan of borrowing money to any
financial institution because they don’t want to have external loans or paying
responsibilities, they were still the NATCCO’s choice to be in partnership.
“Among the choices, SAFADECO is the only one which has no external loan in any
lending or financial institution which implies that they know how to control
their funds. Aside from that, I like their positive attitude towards management
and their good teamwork,” said Evelia Bardos-Tizon, National Mi-Coop Program
Manager. Consequently, they started the establishment of MiCoop which generated
job vacancies for the position of General Manager, Loan Officer, Bookkeeper,
Cashier, and Development Officers. Of course, it gave opportunity to deserving
job seekers. Although, at first there are some pioneer members who are doubtful
about this partnership, yet now their hesitation turned to thanksgiving as they
saw that their partnership with DAR-NATCCO brought a sudden additional improvement
in their organization.
Another
milestone came for SAFADECO on October 9, 2012. Their cooperative finally
opened as an affiliate of NATCCO with its program, the MiCoop. But even before
its official launching, the energetic newly hired employees have already
conducted PMES in several communities. Oftentimes, they made some guestings on
radio through the radio program under the Program Beneficiaries Development promoting
the MiCoop. Prior to its partnership with NATCCO the SAFADECO caters only four
Barangays in the Sorsogon City. Today, with the MiCoop, not only the Sorsogon
City was served but also its adjoining municipalities of Castilla and
Casiguran.
The
following year, they conducted two-day Feeding Program to the students of
Salvacion Elementary School who were taking the National Achievement Test. This
is part of their endeavor to serve the community and at the same time promote
their program. The event brought gladness not only to the children and the
parents but to the teachers as well. “Hopefully, next time you also include our
school in your Feeding Program,” a teacher from the adjoining Barangay told
them. While their coverage becomes wider, the greater gratefulness are felt
both of regular and associate members. Evelyn Jaylo is just one of those who
benefited from the products offered by SAFADECO. Through the availment of loan
of her daughter Florabel last February of this year, she was able to open a
small canteen. “I’m so thankful to SAFADECO because it had helped my family to
have a decent life. Actually, I used to have this job until my husband died. In
order to support the two children who were left to me, I went to Manila and
worked there. This year, I came back, supposed to be for vacation. But when I
learned about the MiCoop, I decided to open again this business. I have no IDs
and other requirements, so Florabel was the one who avail the credit assistance
in my behalf. But I was the one who use the money,” said Evelyn. Her canteen
includes Halu-halo, Mami, Pancit, Bihon, and Lunch. Usually, she prepares six
recipes everyday. Most of the clients are tricycle drivers because the canteen’s
location is just beside the parking place of tricycles. Oftentimes, there are
late eaters who wished to buy food, but unfortunately there’s no more left for
them because every food she prepares are always sold out. “The business is
going well because we’re able to pay our daily dues of one hundred fifty pesos,
while our capital keeps on rolling,” she said.
Last
March 23, 2013 SAFADECO held their first General Assembly with DAR-NATCCO (Actually
it’s the twelfth General Assembly of SAFADECO since birth). It’s just like a
reunion party for the old and the new members. There was also raffle draws and
the election of new officers. The Core Management Team’s goal was to recruit
more members to extend their products and services to more people. That
happened indeed because year after year, they increase. Today, they are 905
all. “DAR and NATCCO are very supportive in achieving our mission to engage our
members in a meaningful development. Through microfinance and other coop
products and services that we are about to offer, we are planning to create
savings product for kids and youth for them to realize the importance of
savings. We want to empower our members by educating them and we want them to
be financial literate. So, it would be much better if they will start while
young,” said Jessica Samantha Dob-Acleta, the General Manager of SAFADECO.
On
the same year, they celebrated their first anniversary – that is the SAFADECO’s
first year with the Microfinance Services. The highlight of their celebration
was the free snacks and medical mission. On that day, there were two volunteer
doctors who did the check-ups and some medical assistants who did blood
pressure testing and blood sugar testing. They also had pharmacy that provided
free medicines. Another services offered during the medical mission was the
weighing of both infants and adults. A group of masseurs/therapists had also
offered free massage therapy. According to SAFADECO General Manager, majority
of their clients are farmers and they are one of those who do not prioritize
health care because they would rather use the money for medical check-ups to
buy food or for their school-children’s stipend. On the other hand, as microfinance
provider, they are very much concerned about their health because if a borrower
gets sick, how can he work? And if he is not able to work, how can he pay his
loan? Thus, they thought of conducting this medical mission.
On
March 22, 2014 they held their thirteenth General Assembly with a level-up
celebration. “Seeing how we held our general assembly now makes me feel
confident because it is already a manifestation that I have made the right
decision of adopting microfinance in our organization,” said Lea G. Dagohoy,
BOD member, recalling how other pioneer members reacted on her decision. Other
members fear that if microfinance fails, their other business might be
confiscated as payment. But Dagohoy stand on her conviction that this is rather
an opportunity for the rapid growth of the organization. Well, she’s quite
right.
The
core management team had also played the most important role in the
cooperative. Although they are new members yet they had exerted effort and
became devoted as the pioneers are. “This is our first general assembly that we
have a souvenir program courtesy of the COMAT,” Dagohoy added.
Aside
from the usual general assembly’s activities such as election, reporting,
raffles, reciting the VMG, SAFADECO has included the distribution of Stock
Certificate in their activities which can either inspire or challenge a member
to increase his share, and the very educative Financial Literacy Seminar given
by Sally P. Nicolas, NATCCO OSU Head of Southern Luzon.
And
just recently, the Department of Agriculture (DA) granted the SAFADECO with
thresher and tractor which they entrusted to a farmer in Burabod ARC to manage equipment
rental to other SAFADECO Members who are their priority, then to other farmers.
Compared to other proprietors who offer the same service, theirs can be hired
in much lower amount.
“Last
year was a challenging year for us as it marks our first year operation in the
Savings and Credit business of the cooperative. It was a year when we
enthusiastically knock unto the heart and mind of our prospect members. It was
also the year when we ardently gave our best to maintain the trust and
confidence of our members especially the pioneers. We needed to prove that we
are worthy of these responsibilities,” said SAFADECO General Manager.
Sometime in DAR’s
history, farmers organized themselves because of the benefits they are
expecting to receive from the government. Who had ever thought that there will
come a time that a farmers’ cooperative will be the one who will give benefits
to the government? And this is the time. Imagine how many jobless and hungry
are there in the Philippines? But here comes the SAFADECO, returning to the
government the fruits of its program, trying to lessen the number of
marginalized people by the jobs it generated and the financial assistance it
has released that provided livelihood to many families. And not only that, they
are also taxpayers who contribute revenue to the nation’s treasury box. Isn’t that wonderful how the rolling piso gets that far?
