Mambulao co-op gears up for CDA registration

Mrs Mariano addressing the workshop participants.

Seminar participants reciting their oath of allegiance before the session began.

From left: MMPC BOD chairman Arthur Canlas ; JP Primary Hospital Service Cooperative Treasurer - Maricel Isagani; Mrs. Ybarola , MMPC treasurer - Elsie Dimaunahan; JP Primary Hospital Service Cooperative BOD chairman / MCDC chairman  Mrs Priscilla Mariano; and JP National High School MMPC member of the board Mr Rodelas. – Pictures courtesy of MMPC

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ

THE Mambulao Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MMPC) is gearing up towards registration with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

On Thursday last week, the co-op held the first of the series of seminars for members to acquaint them on the workings of the cooperative movement and how it would benefit members.

The first-ever seminar was one of the requirements for the co-op’s registration with the CDA.

Held at the Seneres Building at North Poblacion, the workshop was attended by 16 Mambulao-based members, who paid P200 each to cover snacks and seminar materials.

It was conducted by the Mambulao Municipal Cooperative Development Council (MCDC) under the guidance of its chairman Priscilla Mariano, also the chairman of the board of the Jose Panganiban Primary Hospital Service Cooperative.

Elsie Dimaunahan, co-op treasurer, said they requested the MCDC to conduct the seminar for its members to complete their requirements for CDA registration under the Cooperative Code of 2008 (Republic Act 9520).

“CDA required us to provide the pre-membership education seminar (PMES) … Mrs Mariano supervised it because she is the MCDC chairman with accreditation to do this.”

In a brief remark, Mrs Mariano told the participants that many co-ops failed because their members did not have enough knowledge on the cooperative movement.

“If the members would know more about how a co-op functions by attending seminars, they won’t think that the money they invested into it was solely to earn (dividends) … they would also know that they are there to help others.”

“Cooperative is service,” Mrs Mariano stressed.

The participants, who received certificates of attendance, are the following.

Arthur Canlas, Elsie Dimaunahan, Rosevel Del Rosario, Luz Indionela, Ruben Espana, Sheila Sain, Fe Santiago, Virginia Malagueno, Dominacion Pereyra, Jane Ramos, Kenneth Dimaunahan, Jerrime Alpapara, Tito Valencia, Raymundo Rodelas, Bernadeth Cabutotan and Lorna Padua.

MMPC was formed to help members prepare for the future through income from their investment and at the same time generate jobs for the less-privileged kababayan.

MMPC is the first proposed consumer cooperative organized by overseas workers and locally-based Mambulaoans to be formed in at least two decades.

As of last week, the co-op has 13 overseas and 55 locally-based incorporators.

Jessie Obrero Lumapag, the co-op’s prime mover, said that more Mambulaoans have signified intentions to join the organization.

Inquiries should be coordinated with Dimaunahan (Elsie Dimaunahan) or Lumapag (Jessie Obrero Lumapag) by sending either of them a private message (PM) through their Facebook accounts.

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