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M A S S - S P E C C C o o p e r a t i v e D e v e l o p m e n t C e n t e rD E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 Vo l . 1 N o. 2

New MASS-SPECC BOD, officers take oath

Eleven Board of Directors and eight officers and committee members of MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center took oath on June 17, 2010 at

MASS-SPECC Hostel, Tiano-Yacapin Sts., Cagayan de Oro City.

Congressman Jose R. Ping-ay, Coop-NATCCO Partylist representative in Philippine Congress, administered the oath taking. The new members of the board who will hold office in 2010 to 2011 are the following:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Norma R. Pereyras - Chairperson Chad P. Villamor - Vice-Chairperson Edgar G. Amoronio - RepresentingRegionXII Andres B. Arsenal - RepresentingRegionIX Jimmy L. Beray - RepresentingCARAGARegion Gloria P. Dagatan - RepresentingWomenSector Hasan J. Eting - RepresentingARMMRegion Ruth I. Jacutin - RepresentingWomenSector/Secretary Anamarie N. Labininay - RepresentingYouthSector Emma A. Nieva - RepresentingRegionX Maricelle M. Nueva - ElectedatLarge

Aleta A. Gicole -Treasurer

The following were elected/appointed as officers:

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEEFlorida C. Chang - ChairpersonDanilo B. Tagalog - Vice-ChairpersonGilbert B. Cagaanan - Secretary

ELECTION COMMITTEEAtty. Rolando C. Casaway - ChairpersonEufemio L. Calio - Vice-ChairpersonMansueto V. Dela Peña - Secretary

CREDIT COMMITTEE Floriano R. Hilot - Member

Official representatives of MASS-SPECC affiliates voted for these new officials during the 36th MASS-SPECC General Assembly at the Crown Regency-Mactan, Metro Cebu on April 16-18, 2010.

The assembly was also a victory party celebration of the Coop-NATCCO Partylist for winning two seats in the Philippine Congress.

Cooperative leaders who attended the “Conference on Policy Advocacy on Good Governance in Credit Cooperatives” on June 17, 2010 (see story on page 3) also participated in the oath-taking ceremony.

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diaryoThe Voice of Mindanao Cooperatives

w w w. m a s s - s p e c c . c o o p

Thru its membership with the MegaLink Network, MASS-SPECC has recently launched additional products and services of the Pinoy Coop ATM. These are the Cashless Purchase via Point-of-Sales (POS), Debit

Bills Payment, and Inter-Bank Fund Transfer. Driven by the federation’s goal of becoming an ICT leader for the cooperatives, MASS-SPECC has undertaken another big leap forward in the field of Information Technology.

Cashless Purchase via POS enables MegaLink ATM cardholders to buy goods by just swiping your Pinoy Coop ATM card in over 12,000 authorized terminals in the country. A balance inquiry transaction can also be done before making the POS purchase.

These POS terminals are found in more than 5,000

establishments found in department stores and supermarkets nationwide. Now, shopping is made safe and easy because you don’t have to carry cash as long as you have your Pinoy Coop ATM with you.

Another breakthrough of our Pinoy Coop ATM is the Debit Bills Payment. With this new service, you don’t have to deal with the backbreaking process of falling in line to pay your bills. Whether it’s a credit card, insurance, or utility bill, MegaLink ATMs can facilitate your payment in just a few clicks here and there. MegaLink has tied up with 40 biller institutions to make this great service available. These biller institutions include utility companies, financial institutions, government offices, and even non-financial establishments such as schools and airlines. The Debit Bills Payment is surely a big relief as it eliminates a great deal of time and effort.

The latest addition to the growing range of Pinoy Coop ATM services is the Inter-Bank Funds Transfer or IBFT. MegaLink defines IBFT as a service enabling real-time transfer of funds from one account to another account maintained in another bank via ATM. With IBFT, one can already transfer money (whether it’s personal or business) through an ATM machine. It eliminates the need to fall in line to make deposits for those whom we need to pay or provide money to. At present, our Pinoy Coop ATM can do IBFT transactions with MegaLink members only. This includes the banks under the MegaLink Network: Bance de Oro, Asiatrust Bank, Bank of Commerce, Development Bank of the Philippines, GE Money Savings Bank, Maybank, and Union Bank. Soon, fund transfers to the other ATM networks, Bancnet and ExpressNet, will be made available as well. Technology is indeed going in such a dizzying pace nowadays, but MASS-SPECC’s ICT Department will double its efforts to keep up with every new development to better serve the cooperatives.

New Services of the Pinoy Coop ATM

Cashless Purchase via POS

NEW COOP MEMBERSOF MASS-SPECC

As of December 12, 2010

REgiON 1Tabok Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Tabok, Kalingga, Apayao

REgiON 9Batu Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BAFAMCO)

Siay, Zamboanga SibugayARCO FARMERS Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AFAMCO)

Lamitan, Basilan Province

REgiON 10 Highland High-Value Crops Producers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (HIVAC MPC)

Lantapan, BukidnonCoops for Christ Iligan City/Lanao del Norte Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Iligan CityBalingasag Government Employees Cooperative (BALGECO)

Balingasag, Misamis OrientalDelmonte Phils Employees Credit Cooperative (DMPI ECC)

Bugo, Cagayan de Oro CityKauswagan Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KEMPCO)

Kauswagan, Lanao del NorteDelmonte Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (DEARBC)

Camp Philips, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

REgiON 11BAFAVENTRA Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Bansalan, Davao del SurDujali Free Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Dujali, Davao del NorteMindanao Columbian Knights Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Matina, Davao CityMati Public Market Vendors Development Cooperative

Madang, Mati CityDapco Argrarian Reform Benefeciaries Coop - Individual Farming

System (DARBCO-IFS)Almejal, Panabo City

Dapco Argrarian Reform Benefeciaries Coop - Modified Diversified Scheme (DARBCO-MDS)

Dapco, Panabo City, Davao del Norte

REgiON 12Antipas Vendors Credit Cooperative (ANVENC)

Antipas, Cotabato Surallah North District Public School District Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Surallah, South CotabatoPaglaum Consolidated Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Pres. Roxas, North CotabatoSRT Noralah Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Sto. Niño, South CotabatoSRT Tacurong City Cooperative

Tacurong CityPangi Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PAMULCO)

Maitum, Sarangani Province

REgiON 13 CARAgAJCA Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative

(JARBEMCO) Bayugan, Agusan del Sur

Normicist Administrative Personnel Development Coop (NAPCOD)Ampayon, Butuan City

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MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center held a “Conference on Policy Advocacy on Good Governance in Credit Cooperatives” on June 18, 2010 at MASS-SPECC Hostel, Tiano-Yacapin Sts., Cagayan de Oro City.

MASS-SPECC holds governance confab

structure and an information used for directing and overseeing the management of an organization.” “It encompasses the means by which members of the board of directors and senior management are held accountable for their actions and for the establishment and implementation of oversight functions and processes,” he added. Ms. Bernadette Toledo, chief

executive officer of MASS-SPECC, said the conference presents the good governance framework for cooperatives with the aim of promoting and adopting it to the Asian credit union system. The outcome of the conference would allow MASS-SPECC and ACCU to improve its policies on the governance of credit cooperatives. “As a community financial institution, the public and its members rely on the credit union board and employees for the safety and soundness of their savings. Public trust is earned and to earn that trust, a well-defined policies and practices on good governance must be in place,” she added.

There were 111 participants-cooperative leaders, managers or employees - of the conference representing 69 cooperatives. . The conference was in collaboration with Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU). Mr. Ranjith Hettiarachchi, ACCU’s chief executive officer and the resource person of the conference explained that “good cooperative governance is a process, a

The cooperatives are moving from the ground up.

This was expressed through figures in this year’s ownership meetings held in Regions 9 to 13.

“Of the 103 coops participants, 247 branches were established, 741,075 members were served, P8.2 M assets were accumulated, P3.4 M was generated as deposit, P5.1 M loans were granted, P70.9 M was spared as net surplus, and P2.4 M was generated as share capital generation,” Mr. Ronnie Ravanera, MASS-SPECC networking officer, revealed.

“In this meeting, coop leaders give reports about many interesting figures that show their significant growth. It tells us that coops are growing and moving in right direction. It has become relevant in the lives of its members. Coops are acting as safety net during economic crises and are helping its constituents,” Mr Ravanera added.

Member-owners of MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center participated in the ownership meeting. In the five meetings conducted, there were 201 attendees. They represent 103 cooperatives from the five regions mentioned.

Chairperson Norma R. Pereyras reports before 54 coop leaders

representing 29 coop affiliates during the Ownership Meeting in

MASS-SPECC, Maa, Davao City.

MASS-SPECC CDC conducts ownership meetings bi-annually. Engineer Dennis Santander, deputy chief executive officer, together with Mr Ravanera, managed all of the meetings in the different locations.

LOCATION DATE BOARD ATTENDANCEREGION 9 - Pagadian City Sept 03, 2010 Dir. Andres B. ArsenalREGION 10 - Cagayan de Oro City Sept 10, 2010 Dir. Emma A. Nieva and Dir. Maricelle M. NuevaREGION 13 - Surigao City Sept 17, 2010 Dir. Jimmy L. BerayREGION 11 - Davao City Sept 29, 2010 Chairperson Norma R. PereyrasREGION 12 - Kidapawan City Sept 30, 2010 Dir. Edgar G. Amoronio

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Coops grow significantly, report reveals

MASS-SPECC has released P10 million each to Integrated Cooperative Towards Unified Service

(ICTUS) and Socorro Empowered Peoples' MPC (SOEMCO) as loan fund.

ICTUS has opened coop branches in Calumpang, General Santos City and Kiamba, Sarangani Province, while SOEMCO in Surigao City, and Magpayang, Surigao del Norte. Each branch received P5 million to cater the various needs of their member-borrowers.

The money that was released was taken from the central fund of MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center. The fund is a financial mediation that pools resources from and provides support to cooperatives to encourage them for more micro-entrepreneurs’ activities, income and growth.

MASS-SPECC has partnered with Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development AID (CORDAID), a Netherland-base religious microfinance

service provider, to support cooperative development in Mindanao. One of its programs is the structural poverty eradication through micro-financing. MASS-SPECC puts fund together with the CORDAID to assist cooperatives with new branches that operates micro-lending activities in Zamboanga, Cotabato and CARAGA.

MASS-SPECC releases P20M for new branches

The newly elected Board of Trustees of Cooperative Managers Association in Mindanao (CMAM)

took oath on June 18, 2010 at MASS-SPECC Hostel, Tiano-Yacapin Sts., Cagayan de Oro City. The new officers of CMAM are: Eleonor V. Santiago of Micro-Entrepreneurs' MPC in Zamboanga City, Chad P. Villamor of Ampayon MPC in Butuan City, Gadwin Handumon of Paglaum MPC in Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, Merlyn Idul-Gomez of Mediatrix MPC in Kidapawan City, Deal Noel A. Benegrado of MSU-IIT MPC in Iligan City, Ad Marie Marcelo of Tagum Cooperative in Tagum City, and Bernadette Toledo of MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center, Cagayan de Oro City.There were a hundred cooperators-- chairpersons, managers and key personnel- from 69 cooperatives present during the ceremony.

CMAM’s Board of Trustees takes oath

Mr. Ranjith Hettiarachchi, chief executive officer of the Association of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU), administered the oath-taking.

Ms. Bernadette Toledo, chief executive officer of MASS-SPECC, said CMAM undertakes activities to improve coop management and customer relationships

among members, to strengthen interpersonal skills/ trainings for the managers, and to raise funds to sustain operations of the association.

CMAM has outlined their activities for 2011 during a planning workshop on Dec. 18, 2010 at MASS-SPECC Conference Room.

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MASS-SPECCHostelprioritizessafetyoftheirgueststhatiswhyithasinstalledanICKeycardSysteminitsnewly-renovatedprivaterooms.

The Mindanao Alliance of Self-help Societies-Southern Philippines Educational

Cooperative Center (MASS-SPECC) organized a parliamentary seminar for young coop members on Oct 17-18, 2010 in MASS-SPECC Training Center, Cagayan de Oro City. There were 11 youth from different cooperatives who participated in the appreciation seminar on parliamentary procedures. The participants come from Ideal MPC, Tagum, Oro Integrated, Paglaum MPC, Samulco & MSU-IIT MPC. Mr Ronilo Ravanera, MASS-SPECC networking officer, said the participants have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge on parliamentary proceedings through the seminar. The seminar was part of the leadership training of Coop Youth Parliament (CYP). There were team building activities also.

secureforourcustomers.Wewantthemtofeelathomewhentheyarehere (MASS-SPECC hostel),” Mrs

Rosevim Lomongo,officer-in-charge of

M A S S - S P E C CHostel,said.

“This device isnow used in hotelsin Cagayan de OroCity.Tostayattunedwith new trends inthe industry, MASS-SPECC Hosteladopted this newtechnology to bestserve cooperatorsand guests,” Mr.D a g a y aadded.

There are 28 roomsin MASS-SPECCHostel available insingle, double, familyand dormitory typesfor lodgers andseminarians. (Pleaseclick the link belowforroomrates).Thehostelmanagementgives10%discountto any member of a

MASS-SPECC-affiliate cooperative, and a 20%-discount to seniorcitizens.

It also has two function hallsequipped with basic amenitiesthat can accommodate 15 to 80personsfor trainingsandseminars,conferences,meetings,andthelike.

Free breakfast is also provideddaily to all guests in any lodgingaccommodation.Becauseof itsaffordableprice, thedormitory rooms are continuallypopular among students and travelgroups.Otherthanthat,thehostelisjustawalking-distancetorecreationcenters,banks,shoppingmallsand

learninginstitutionsthatiswhyitispreferredbyguests..

The continuedpatronage of its

clients is a clearmanifestation thatMASS-SPECC Hostel

has already earned areputation as a favoritehostel for everyone in

CagayandeOroCity,andthe“HomeofCooperators”inMindanao.

Safety firSt!

Mr. Paps Dagaya, manager ofMASS-SPECC Hostel, said thesystem allows guests easy accessto room withoutthe hassle ofthe ordinarybulky key. Onlywith the use ofthe key cardinserted in thedoor’s slot canthe room beopened. Withoutit, the roomremainsclosed.

TheICKeycardSystemisalsoan energy-saving device.The electriccurrentisturnedononcethekeyisinserted in theslotof themagneticboxnearthedoorinsidetheroom..So, the guest can use the lights,television, air-conditioner, andotherelectricaldevices. “Once theguest goes out from the room andlocksthedoor,allelectriccurrentisautomatically shut-off,” Mr. Dagayaexplained.

“We are much concern in makingthe ambiance comfortable and

Together, the participants planted mangrove trees along Cagayan (de Oro) River bank, and cruised towards Macajalar Bay to culminate the two-day training.

“The activities develop camaraderie among youth leaders. Those certain undertakings are necessary to develop the youth’s leadership skills. The importance of being a leader is also highlighted because the current set-ups of officers amongst our member-coops are already endangered species,” Mr. Ravanera added. CYP is one of MASS-SPECC’s responses towards the challenging transition of modern leadership. At the same time, it is a move in establishing the primary coops along with the youth members to journey together. It was formulated during MASS-SPECC’s strategic planning in accordance to its vision:

A strong and stable youth organization empowering its members towards sustainable growth and development of Mindanao.

“MASS-SPECC will act as the umbrella of the youth programs of the cooperatives in the Philippines. It will institutionalize youth programs with the primary cooperatives as partner towards sustainable growth and development,” Mr. Ravanera expressed. MASS-PECC is dedicated to mold young leaders and cooperators, to provide quality services for community development and to promote environmental awareness among the youth in Mindanao. Prior to the leadership training, the participants attended a youth congress during the 41st Mindanao Coop Leaders Congress on April 16, 2010 in Crown Regency-Mactan, Mactan, Cebu.

MASS-SPECC holds parliamentary seminar

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TheFinancialIntermediationConsultancyService - Institute of Cooperative

Studies (FICSICS) of MASS-SPECCconducteda“TrainingofMicro-enterprisesfor Cooperatives” in Butuan, Dipolog,Zamboanga,GeneralSantos,andCagayandeOrofromJulytoNov2010. Managers, loan officers and accounts officers from different cooperatives attended the training. It aimed to provide them knowledge and skills in expanding membership and in implementing microfinance effectively. The training emphasized on the results of the microenterprise research titled, “Microfinancing with an Understanding of Diverse Enterprises’ Dynamics-Fundamentals-Trends.” The study was initiated by VRV Management and Property Consultancy, Inc. with Prof Vicente R. Valdellon, Jr., president and former professor of Asian Institute Management. In his report, Professor Valdellon said they have always strongly believed that microfinance’s real role is poverty reduction, not poverty alleviation (‘easing the pain’). The most important effect is economic ascendancy- breaking away from the ‘vicious cycle of poverty,’ as well as sustaining business advancement. “Financing’s responsibility is providing the funds needed

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for the business to make sure that production of goods happen and that sales happen. In the end, it is the number of “graduates” produced, not the number of people helped. It is most worthwhile to work on the striving entrepreneurial poor with growable enterprises,” Professor Vadellon said. “What microfinance institutions should strive for are the development service delivery (concentrating on those “graduatable”) and sustained business viability (providing supports for continued progress of enterprises). The coops’ stature as “banker for the poor” and growing bigger and bigger, should be a secondary, self-serving consideration,” he added. The results of the research would help coops find new fundamentals of micro-enterprise development- the identification of growable enterprises, and the delivery of appropriate financial services to their target members.

FICSICSconducts micro-enterprise trainings for coops

The Financial Intermediation Consultancy Service - Institute of Cooperative Studies (FICSICS) of MASS-SPECC conducted

three regional trainings on “Coop Branching and Marketing.”

yet with relatively few or even without viable savings and credits. She added that a number of MASS-SPECC- affiliate cooperatives already know the economies of scale to operate a viable savings and credit cooperative branch. The resource speaker, Mr. Raul Pregon, former general manager of Oro Integrated Cooperative,

shared his rich experiences on coop branching and marketing to the participants. Towards the end of the training, many participants became interested to reach more people in other parts of Mindanao, particularly in Zamboanga, CARAGA, and ARMM regions through branching strategy.

The trainings were conducted in Surigao City on June 23-24, 2010, and in Pagadian City on July 15-16; 20-21, 2010. Seventeen cooperatives participated in the trainings. Most of the 39 participants were managers, members of the board, and loan officers from different cooperatives in the region. Ms. Hermes Vergara, FICSICS manager, said that, today, a number of cooperatives have adopted the strategy of satellite/branching to expand membership and to allow the delivery of services to potential people.

MASS-SPECC conducts training on coop branching, marketing