Commitment for Cooperative

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A COMMITMENT FOR COOPS IN THE LIFE OF A CEO A Bible passage says... “For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you. (Psalm 128:2)”. This simply describes the foundation of the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC) and describes how CEO DIVINA QUEMI works for NSCC and the coop movement. THE NSCC HISTORY NSCC was conceptualized thru the brilliant minds of Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, DD and Msgr. Ambrose L. Cabildo, MSW, JCC both of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. These two church leaders of the Archdiocese created NSCC with the aim to have a viable and integrated program among cooperatives and help catalyze the holistic development of people within the Barangays and Municipalities of Ilocos Sur. The founders were confident at that time to appoint a very young lady at age of 24, Ms. Divina Cabunoc now Mrs. Divina C. Quemi as the caretaker/Manager and now the Chief Executive Officer. 1

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Cooperative Development Authority Dagupan Extension Office Region I Philippines

Transcript of Commitment for Cooperative

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A COMMITMENT FOR COOPS IN THE LIFE OF A CEO

A Bible passage says... “For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you. (Psalm 128:2)”. This simply describes the foundation of the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC) and describes how CEO DIVINA QUEMI works for NSCC and the coop movement.

THE NSCC HISTORY

NSCC was conceptualized thru the brilliant minds of Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, DD and Msgr. Ambrose L.    Cabildo, MSW, JCC both of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. These two church leaders of the Archdiocese created NSCC with the aim to have a viable and integrated program among cooperatives and help catalyze the holistic development of people within the Barangays and Municipalities of Ilocos Sur. The founders were confident at that time to appoint a very young lady at age of 24, Ms. Divina Cabunoc now Mrs. Divina C. Quemi as the caretaker/Manager and now the Chief Executive Officer.

The young CEO at that time had to learn what cooperative is, based on experience, trainings and teachings from the founders and from her mentors. First, she has to undergo a tedious process in registering the Consortium to the Cooperative Development Authority. Second, the conduct of first consultation meeting on June 7, 1992 and the organizational assembly on July 5, 1992 to amend/ratify/approve the Articles and By-laws. Finally, it was registered on September 17, 1992 with the Cooperative Development Authority with a Registration Number DAG-

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2218. NSCC is now re-registered on October 2009 under the RA 9520.

Like any organization, to start the operation is the hardest because everything must have to start with a scratch. It was not easy as the Cooperative only started with a minimal initial capital of only Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P13,500.00) and with only two co-employees who are working with her Mr. Rolando Parel and Mrs. Fely Tugade.

The CEO and two co-employees during its early years

Though she was new to the cooperative movement, she strived hard to learn and to possess the right attitude as a Cooperative Leader. She did not mind receiving a salary of P450 a month, she has the willingness to devote herself to work in the cooperative movement.

HER EXPERIENCE TAUGHT HER TO BECOME EXPERT COOP LEADER

The young Manager thanked the guidance and support of the founders and some of the pioneer officers like Mrs. Virginia Natividad Makil, Atty. Maria Ellen Derige Cabatu, Mr. Jaime Gaboy, Jr., Dr. Caridad Tadena and Mr. Bonifacio Rosales who gave their all out support and served as her mentors in the Cooperative movement. She remembers that she was like a student learning a lot from the teachings of these expert cooperative leaders.

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The CEO while working with her mentors.

The CEO also learned the value of networking, she valued much attending to different cooperative activities like meetings, seminars and conferences in order to learn more on proper handling of coop operation, learn from the experiences of other cooperative leaders, make new friends in the Cooperative movement and of course to promote NSCC to the network.

CEO ATTENDING DIFFERENT COOP ACTIVITIES IN AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY

THE CEO AS RECOGNIZED COOP LEADER IN LARGE COOP NETWORK, NGOS AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

Aside from working 24/7 in NSCC, the CEO still find time to network with other big cooperative networks. She made her way to being one of the elite coop leaders of NATCCO. She was elected as Board of Director for several years and she also became an election officer. In the recently concluded NATCCO 35th Annual General Assembly, she was elected as the Gender Congress Representative which brought her back to the NATCCO Board.

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The name NSCC did not only become popular in the cooperative network, other organizations like NGOs and Government Organizations, have also heard NSCC thru the CEO. Now she was even elected as Chairperson of an international Non-Government Organization - the Oiko Credit Ecumenical Cooperative Development Society’s Philippine Support Association.

Her wit, leadership ability and dedication in the cooperative movement made her one of the Cooperative Sectoral Council Representative of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

THE COMMITMENT TO EMPOWER COOPERATIVES THRU FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAININGS

Another challenge for the young CEO was to win the trust and support of Primary Cooperatives to NSCC. With the heIp and support of its officers she initiated different programs and services for primary coop members. NSCC provided primary cooperatives with credit services and capability building services. NSCC coop members enjoy a low rate of interest in its wholesale lending program. The said fund is being used by these cooperatives in strengthening their capital build up thereby adding more funds to support the projects of their members.

She initiated for the creation of a Wholesale Cooperative Lending Program where funds of this shall come from different big financial institutions in the country.. The accumulated funds from this program is being used to relend to Primary Cooperatives at a very affordable rate of interest.

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CEO QUEMI IS ONE OF THE NATCCO OFFICIALS

CEO QUEMI WITH OIKO PSA OFFICIALS OATH TAKING OF COOP SECTORAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES OF NATIONAL ANTI-POVERTY

COMMISSION

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The aim of sourcing out funds for the primary cooperatives is to always be ready at the time these cooperatives need financial assistance. This program shall make primary cooperatives an instrument to alleviate poverty within communities thru providing them capital to support the livelihood of their members.

The young CEO also mandated for the creation of TRAINING PROGRAM FOR COOPERATIVES. First it established a small training center as venue for cooperative

trainings. She made trainings accessible for cooperatives with its affordable training fees just enough to accommodate the expenses. She also made some trainings free of charge thru writing proposals to some institutions that catered free trainings for cooperative development like the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, National Livelihood Development Corporation, and National Tobacco Administration.

She also provided volunteer coaching services to some primary cooperatives in order for them to succeed in their operation. Two of these cooperatives are the Sugpunan Sisa Magsingal MPC and the IDF Community Development Cooperative.

NSCC AS A CENTER OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION THRU THE NSCC PLAZA

The dream of the CEO to make NSCC the center for Cooperative business and education did not stop from the establishment of the small training center. She later on conceptualized a bigger training venue for cooperatives, a wide function hall that is fully airconditioned, with hotel amenities and services in order to give comfort to guests from the cooperative networks. With the CEOs wish to finish this project, she led the sourcing of funds from local and international source. Now, this building is built with all beauty and grandeur in the heart of Caoayan in Metro Vigan, Ilocos Sur. The CEO did not fail in her dream of making NSCC one of the center of cooperative education not only in Region 1 but in the whole country as well.

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THE OLD TRAINING CENTER

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Another achievement was the accreditation of NSCC as an accredited Training Provider for Cooperatives by the Cooperative Development Authority. Aside from having expert pool of Trainors where the CEO is one, NSCC have invited one reputable training institution, the Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) and Ateneo de Manila University to help NSCC capacitate the cooperatives thru providing affordable and effective trainings and seminars.

Meeting with SEDPI officers for NSCC to become its Training Hub

CEO Quemi being one of the accredited trainors, she also conducts trainings and seminars for small cooperatives. She helped DAR Employees MPC on their Strategic Planning.

THE BOOST OF TOURISM IN THE NORTH THRU NSCC PLAZA

One of the aim of the CEO why the NSCC plaza was built is to help promote tourism in Ilocos Sur. The network of

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The NSCC PLAZA and THE DIFFERENT LEARNING ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED

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cooperatives can help boost tourism in one place. NSCC Plaza now become the favorite destinations of cooperatives from different parts of the country. With Coop activities like Lakbay Arals, Forums, Trainings and Seminars, cooperatives in CAR Region, North and Central Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao stays at NSCC PLAZA. During their stay, they have the chance to visit different tourism destinations in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and La Union.

The delegates of AWCF and St. Jude Cooperative during their stay at NSCC PLaza

SIGNIFICANT PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS to BOOST COOPERATIVISM AND MICROENTREPRENEURSHIP

With the humble leadership and effective management, NSCC have established significant partnership with the Local Government Units particularly in the Province of Ilocos Sur, City of Vigan and Municipality of Caoayan.  The partnership with Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur made NSCC a fund manager of different livelihood programs for cooperatives and microentrepreneurs.. The program started in 2002. The partnership was even nominated for best NGO-LGU Partnership Award by the Senate of the Philippines.

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Likewise, the partnership between NSCC and the City Government of Vigan has been running for more than a decade and it has been also nominated for best NGO-LGU Partnership Award. This 2012, the City Government of Vigan and NSCC won the Best NGO-LGU Partnership Award in Region 1. The tie-up between the City Government and NSCC aims to empower the Bigueno Microentrepreneurs, improve the pottery industry, enhance and promote Vigan OTOP Products, empower Vigan based cooperatives, and boost agriculture industry. The whole of this is one package for the tie-up livelihood program of the City of Vigan and NSCC.

The LGU of the Municipality of Caoayan also transferred some of their livelihood funds to NSCC to give support to farmers and for the enhancement and marketing of their One Barangay One Product Program.

With the different tie-up programs, NSCC is overwhelmed with the trust and confidence extended by the said LGUS.. Handling these projects is not an easy task for the

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HON. VICE-GOVERNOR DEOGRACIAS VICTOR SAVELLANO HAND OVER CEREMONIAL CHECK SYMBOLIZING FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO NSCC FOR THE LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS OF

THE PROVINCE

City Government Officials with CEO Quemi handling financial loan assistance to Vigan

Microentrepreneur

Municipal Government Officials with CEO Quemi handling financial loan assistance to

Caoayan Farmer

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Cooperative. However, NSCC still does its best to always become an effective partner of the LGUs in their mandate to eradicate poverty within their respective areas.

NSCC AS A MARKETING MEDIUM FOR LOCAL PRODUCTS

Another program that the CEO is giving priority is the marketing of the local products. She wanted to make cooperatives as medium to promote the products of the members in different market and network. NSCC is active in joining trade fairs either invitation comes from local or national.

She also initiated the creation of NSCC MPC, a primary cooperative organized by the employees of NSCC. This cooperative is buying local products and agri products of members and is selling to the employees of NSCC, and other patrons. The local product are displayed at the NSCC Plaza and is being offered for sale as pasalubong to the guests of the Plaza.NSCC Plaza also buys products of members like vegetables, fish, breads, kakanins and others.

Part of the marketing program of the cooperative is the establishment of tie-ups between the NSCC and the JOLLIBBEE FOUNDATION, CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES and the NATIONAL LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, LGUS OF SINAIT, VIGAN CITY AND CAOAYAN, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES. The program’s goal is to bring the local products like garlic, white onions and corn to the different prominent markets of the country like the Jollibee Foods Corporation.

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PROMOTION OF LOCAL PRODUCTS thru NSCC MPC PASALUBONG CENTER

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NSCC FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

For only twenty (20) years in operation, NSCC have made a marvelous achievement of increasing its assets from Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P13, 500.00) to half a billion assets (P548, 514,664.88) as of December 2011. The area of operation also expanded from being a provincial based to covering the whole of Luzon. The expansion led to the creation of additional branches in the provinces of I locos Sur, I locos Norte, Banquet, and La Union and helped employed 120 employees in different parts of Region 1.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS RECEIVED by NSCC

NSCC have already received several awards and recognitions making it as one of the top cooperatives in the whole country. Significant awards include the following:

NAME OF AWARD AWARDING BODY

DATE GIVEN

1. SEMI-FINALIST COOP – LGU PARTNERSHIP AWARD 2003 (PARTNERSHIP WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT)

Senate of the Philippines July 31, 2003

2. MOST RECEPTIVE COOPERATIVE

Socio-Economic Development Centre for Cooperative Education (SEDCCOP)

September 30, 2003

3. PLAQUE OF RECOGNITION FUR SUCCESSFULLY EXTENDED MICROFINANCE SERVICES TO MARGINALIZED CLIENTS

People’s Credit and Finance Corporation

September 14, 2003

4. PLACQUE OF RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION

People’s Credit and Finance Corporation

September 14, 2006

5. SIPAG AWARDS National Livelihood Support Fund

September 25, 2006

6. FINALIST COOP – LGU PARTNERSHIP AWARD 2006 (PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY GOVERNMENT)

Senate of the Philippines January 23, 2007

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SEVERAL MEETINGS CONDUCTED FORTHE FARMERS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM IN TIE-UP WITH JOLLIBBEE

FOUNDATION, NLDC, CRS, LGU AND ACADEME

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7. EXCELLENCE AWARD Cooperative Development Authority Region 1

March 10, 2007

8. SIPAG AWARDS – MOST OUTSTANDING PROGRAM PARTNER FOR REGIONS I,II AND III

National Livelihood Development Corporation

September 2007

9. CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FOR NSCC’S COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC ENTERPRISE & MGT EDUCTATION

Banyan Academy October 25, 2008

10. 2010 SPECIAL AWARD Cooperative Development Authority Region 1

October 30, 2008

11. 2008 PROJECTION ACHIEVER

Western Union Money Transfer Service

February 18, 2009

12, TOP 5 HIGHEST VOLUME OF JOB ORDERS

Noble Printers and Publishers Coop

April 30, 2011 & April 2010

13. TOP 10 PATRONS AND HIGHEST INVESTORS

Northern Luzon Federation of Cooperatives and Dep’t Centre

May 22, 2011

14. MOST OUTSTANDING COOP IN LUZON

National Livelihood Development Corporation

September 28, 2011

15. TOP 5 SHARE CAPITAL CONTIBUTOR

National Confederation of Cooperatives

May 27, 2012

16. BEST LGU – NGO AWARD REGION 1 (WITH VIGAN CITY)

National Economic Development Authority

February 2012

17. ANNUAL CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FOR NSCC’S PARTICIPATION TO DIFFERENT FIESTAS AND ACTIVITIES OF VIGAN CITY

City Government of Vegan January 2001 -January 25, 2012

18. CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FOR THE CONDUCT OF LAKBAY ARALS AND SEMINARS

Different Cooperatives from Luzon, Visa as and Mindanao

2011 and 2012

ACCREDITATIONS RECEIVED BY NSCC

1. Certificat of Commendation on promoting a Compassionate Conflict Management Mechanism in the Settlement of Disputes by way of hosting the internship component

PHIL IDEAS COOPERATIVE April 15, 2012

2. Certificate of Partnership

Asian Women in Coop Dev’t Forum Nov. 27, 2010

3. Partnership for the Kapatiran Foundation - monitoring of projects in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte

Kapatiran of Netherlands November 8, 2010

4. Certificate of Accreditation

Office of Transport Cooperatives

March 1, 2010

5. Certificate of Accreditation – Accredited Association

Philippine Coconut Authority

August 24, 2007

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of Small Coconut Farmers

6. Certificate of Partnership

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

October 27, 2006

7. Certificate of Accreditation

UCPB-CIIF Finance & Dev’t Corporation

October 6, 2006

8. Certificate of Appointment

Department of Agrarian Reform

November 5, 2002

AWARDS RECEIVED BY CEO DIVINA QUEMI

1. Excellence Award Cooperative Development AuthorityRegion 1

March 10, 2007

2. Distinguished Award for Women in the Cooperative

Cooperative Development AuthorityRegion 1

September 26, 2009

3. Plaque of Appreciation in her special participation to KANNAWIDAN YLOCOS FESTIVAL 2010

Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur

January 30, 2010

4. Plaque of Appreciation

as Officer

NATCCO April 9, 2010

5. Special Appreciation Award

Coop-NATCCO Party List December 10, 2011

NSCC recipient of award during the 6th Sipag Awards of the National Livelihood development Corporation

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Below are Plaques and Certificates received by CEO Quemi

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The NSCC is a product of good leadership and innovative mind of the CEO. With the support of the officers and staff, she is slowly making NSCC a cooperative that works for the poor, empowers cooperatives and inspires coop leaders. NSCC is only two decades old yet its accomplishments are countless.  NSCC continues to shine as a cooperative working for limitless possibilities for the good of all people being served and for the glory of God. The star of NSCC shines thru its CEO – MRS. DIVINA C. QUEMI....

Prepared byZENAIDA R. REÑOSecretaryNueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives

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