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Manila Bulletin devider MBrand devider Villar SIPAG honors 22 cooperatives for their role in poverty reduction

Villar SIPAG honors 22 cooperatives for their role in poverty reduction

Published Dec 21, 2020 08:00 am

The Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) will recognize 22 cooperatives from various parts of the country for their contribution in improving the quality of life of Filipinos, especially from the countryside.

Former Senate President Manny Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar will lead the virtual awarding ceremony on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. 

The event caps the birthday celebration of former Senate President Villar, the founding chairman of Villar SIPAG. 

The awardees will each receive P250,000 in cash from Villar SIPAG. 

Former Senate President Villar

Three cooperatives, which received special citations, will get ₱100,000 each.

“Cooperatives play a significant role toward realizing the aspirations of our countrymen, especially those from the rural areas. They are the true epitome of Sipag at Tiyaga, values that have helped me succeed in my career as a businessman and a public servant,” former Senate President Villar said. 

Sen. Cynthia Villar

“Through this recognition, we hope to inspire and encourage cooperatives to continue with their work to uplift the lives of their communities,” added Sen. Cynthia Villar, director of Villar SIPAG. 

One of the awardees is the Golden Group Gabay Puhunan Brotherhood MPC from San Fernando City, Pampanga. 

The credit cooperative started its humble beginnings in 1990 where a group of 15 market vendors pooled their resources to help each other improve their economic plight through savings or “paluwagan” with low interest rates and cross patronage of their products and services. 

It has now grown to more than 5,000 members composed of market vendors, farmers, and fisherfolk, service providers, and micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), with total assets amounting to ₱796 million. 

The cooperative has expanded to include real estate and solar power generation in their business. 

Another awardee, the CAMSUR Multipurpose Cooperative from Pili, Camarines Sur, has been supporting their farmer and MSME members, who have grown to nearly 2,500 since its establishment in 2000. 

With assets amounting to ₱195 million, the cooperative is helping create jobs, promoting business opportunities and sustaining farm production of its members. 

The group has taught its members entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy, while advancing the production of organic fertilizers to improve soil condition. 

The 2020 winners of the Villar SIPAG awards on poverty reduction are: 

  1. Mandaluyong Traders Development Cooperative on Inocentes Street, Barangay Pag-asa, Mandaluyong City 
  2. Segunda Mana at 2002 Jesus Street, Pandacan, Manila, c/o Father Anton Pascual 
  3. Lamut GRAssroots Savings & Development Cooperative (LAGSADECO) in Poblacion East, Lamut, Ifugao 
  4. Piddig Bassi Multipurpose Cooperative in Barangay 2, Anao, Piddig, Ilocos Norte 
  5. Golden Group Gabay Puhunan Brotherhood MPC in Del Pilar, San Fernando City, Pampanga 
  6. Caniogan Credit and Development Cooperative in the City of Malolos, Bulacan (with 11 branches in Bulacan) 
  7. Taytay Development Cooperative in Taytay, Rizal 
  8. Tayabas Community Multipurpose Cooperative on Quezon Avenue, San Roque Zone 1, Tayabas City, Quezon
  9. Yakap at Halik Multipurpose Cooperative in Barangay Walay, Padre Burgos, Quezon 
  10. Camsur Multipurpose Cooperative in Pili, Camarines Sur 
  11. Barcelona Development Cooperative (BADECO) in Poblacion Sur, Sorsogon 
  12. Lezo Multipurpose Cooperative in Poblacion, Lezo, Aklan 
  13. First Consolidated Coop Along Tanon Seaboards in Toledo City, Cebu 
  14. Palompon Community Multipurpose Cooperative in Rizal Street, Palompon, Leyte 
  15. Almeria Seafarers Multipurpose Cooperative (ASEMCO) in Poblacion, Almeria, Biliran 
  16. Cassava Growers Processor Association (CAGAPA) in Dapitan City, Zamboanga Del Norte 
  17. Panabo Multipurpose Cooperative in Panabo City, Davao del Norte 
  18. Kapalong Cooperative in Kapalong, Davao del Norte 
  19. San Francisco Growth Enhancement Multipurpose Cooperative in San Francisco, Agusan Del Sur (now has branches in Caraga, Compostella Valley, and Misamis Oriental) 
  20. Recipients of the Villar SIPAG Special Awards are: 
  21. Nagbacalan Loom weavers Multipurpose Cooperative in Barangay 22, Nagbacalan, Paoay, Ilocos Norte 
  22. Samahang Magpapatubig ng Mansalay, Inc. in Barangay Roma, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro 
  23. Ig-Abai Small Farmers Coconut and Agricultural Organization in Balabagan, Lanao Del Sur. 
  • Almeria Seafarers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  • Barcelona Development Cooperative
  • CamSur Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  • Caniogan Credit and Development Cooperative
  • Cassava Growers and Processors Association
  • First Consolidated Cooperative Along Tañon Seaboards
  • Golden Group Gabay Puhunan Brotherhood Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  • Ig-Abai Small Farmers Coconut and Agricultural Organization
  • Kapalong Cooperative
  • Lamut Grassroots Savings & Development Cooperative
  • Lezo Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  • Mandaluyong Traders Development Cooperative
  • Nagbacalan Loomweavers Multipurpose Cooperative
  • Palompon Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  • Villar Parangal
  • Piddig Bassi Multipurpose Cooperative
  • Samahang Magpapatubig ng Mansalay, Inc.
  • San Francisco Growth Enhancement Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  • Segunda Mana
  • Tayabas Community Multipurpose Cooperative
  • Taytay Development Cooperative
  • Yakap At Halik Multi-Purpose Cooperative

The Villar SIPAG aims to bring Filipinos out of poverty and hunger.

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