2 Cebu Coops Bag Top Awards in LANDBANK’s Gawad PITAK 2016

Two cooperatives from Cebu clinched the top awards in this year’s Gawad sa Pinakatanging Kooperatiba (Gawad PITAK) conferred by LANDBANK during recent ceremonies to celebrate the Bank’s 53rd anniversary.

The Lamac Multi-purpose Cooperative and the Cebu CFI Community Cooperative won the Gawad PITAK Platinum awards in the agri- and non agri-based categories respectively. This award is given every three years to cooperatives regarded as influential leaders in the cooperative industry for implementing major programs that benefit their communities. The winners each received P1.5 million worth of fixed assets.

Now on its 26th year, the Gawad PITAK is LANDBANK’s pioneering program that recognizes outstanding cooperatives that serve as effective conduits in providing financial and technical support to the economic endeavors of their members and the communities at large.

Finance Secretary and LANDBANK Chairman Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez led the conferment of the awards.

“We at LANDBANK are proud to be part of the inspiring narratives of our partner cooperatives in making a difference in their communities. Through the years, these cooperatives proved to be vital players in the development of their respective communities through their services and jobs generated that boost not only their local economies but also contribute to the national development,” says Cecilia C. Borromeo, officer-in-charge of LANDBANK.

Stories of growth and success

The Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC) was established in 1992 by a group of farmers to address their dire situation in Pinamungajan, Cebu that was literally in the dark with the absence of electricity, concrete roads or clean drinking water.

Through concerted effort, they provided financial support for their members to engage in micro businesses, and undertook projects like electrification that benefitted their community.

From a small co-op, LMPC is now a multi-awarded cooperative that is spurring the economic growth of the community through various businesses such lending, production and distribution of consumer products, management of a beach resort, among others. Its operation expanded to cover other areas not only in Cebu but in the whole of Visayas.

The Cebu CFI Community Cooperative is another key development player in Cebu, contributing to the local economy through its offering of products and services to members, generating employment and undertaking major social projects. From 29 pioneering members in 1970, the co-op is now 94,000 strong and operates in 277 cities and municipalities across the country.

Its businesses include lending and leasing; health services with fully equipped laboratories; management of the Lyceum of Cebu, coop assurance center that offers life and non-life insurances; grocery and canteen services located at the coop’s main office.

Other winners

Other cooperatives in this year’s roster of winners are Diffun Saranay and Development Cooperative of Diffun, Quirino and Iwahori Multi-purpose Cooperative of Mariveles Bataan, which won the Ginintuang Gawad PITAK – the highest award given annually – in the agri-based and non agri-based categories, respectively, each winning P1 million worth of fixed assets.

The Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Talavera, Nueva Ecija, meanwhile, was conferred the Hall of Fame award, with P100,000 worth of fixed assets.

Consistently in the top five in the previous runs of Gawad PITAK, the Buenavista Development Cooperative of Buenavista, Guimaras was hailed the Most Outstanding Cooperative in the agri-based category this year, winning P500,000 worth of fixed assets.

Sacred Heart Savings Cooperative of Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur, on the other hand, was named Most Outstanding Cooperative in the non agri-based category, taking home P300,000.00 worth of fixed assets.

Outstanding farmer- and fisher-members of LANDBANK-assisted cooperatives were also recognized in this year’s Gawad PITAK, naming Danny Rey Antenor of Surallah, South Cotabato as Ulirang Magsasaka and Romedel Duco as Ulirang Mangingisda, each winning P100,000 worth of fixed assets.