TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The city government through the City Cooperatives Enterprise and Development Office (CCEDO) affirms that one way for cooperatives to increase their share capital and total asset is through voluntary and open membership.
Cooperative Development Specialist II, Ryan Jose, explained that in voluntary and open membership, all persons can use the services of the cooperative and should be willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Jose pointed out the St. John the Evangelist Agriculture Cooperative, whereby after engaging in an open membership, it was able to increase its total assets to P4,060,626.00 in December 31, 2020, graduating from micro to small scale cooperative category.
The cooperative, he added, also accepts savings deposits.
Another success factor of the St. John the Evangelist Agriculture Cooperative is the expertise and experience of its officers who were also members of other cooperatives.
Another cooperative which enjoys the benefits of engaging in open membership is the Lubo Business Based Guin-awa Credit Cooperative which registered a total asset of P15,006,174.00 in December 31, 2020.
According to Jose, this cooperative was initially established for the people of Lubo, Tanudan until it removed membership restrictions, and now graduated from small to medium scale cooperative category.
“Increase in share capital and total asset make cooperatives more sustainable and thus they will be able to expand their services and reach more people,” Jose emphasized.
Concerning sustainability, the CCEDO regularly facilitates cooperative virtual inspection, in partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), to review operations and assess if cooperatives are compliant with their by-laws. If cooperatives fail to comply with policies, amendments to their by-laws are recommended.
City Mayor Darwin Estrañero believes in the principle of cooperativism and assures his all-out support to the programs and services of the CCEDO. By Darwin S. Serion