Cooperative Organization and Practical Applications (COOP 20073)

Colarte, Erianne Khrisha Prof. Bienvenido Nito

BSC 2-2

ALL SOPHOMORES CO-OP WEBINAR

(July 1, 2021)

On July 1, 2021, we, the sophomores are invited to a webinar about BSC
Sophomore Capability and Capacity Enhancement Program: Co-op Operations,
Business Dynamics, and Success Story of LAMAC Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Though
LAMAC MPC isn’t present, they’ve showed us how successful they are by showing it
through a video presentation.

LAMAC Multi-Purpose Cooperative is really amazing. It was so great that they

started out as 70 farmers with P3,500 starting capital. But now, they were operating 42
branches and 6 satellite branches in the Visayas. They have now a total of 2 billion asset.
Over the 47 years of operating, they were able to do so many things. They have been
alleviating lives and providing holistic empowerment needs to farmers, fisherfolks,
women, youth, and small and medium entrepreneurs. To help transform lives, they were
able to adapt the clustering approach in all their agricultural enterprises. They provided
the farmers an access to capital, insurances, capability training and they also facilitate
market linkage. Now, they were supplying crops to different food chain like Jollibee Group
Foundation Stores. It doesn’t stop in agriculture, they also created a resort, bakery and
even soap making that gave people job opportunities. What I really like the most is their
faith in God which led them to where they are right now. Indeed, if you believe, nothing
will be impossible.

The second part of the program were about the question of the student to the OJT
advisers. As part of the organizers team of the webinar and the one who collates the
questions, some are still confused on what they will do if they were not able to comply
with the required hours. Only few of the questions were entertained and I think Prof. Martin
and Prof. Nito were able to answer it well. Although the students still have questions in
mind, at least some of it was now cleared.

Another fruitful webinar had happened, and another story was heard. This webinar
series were able to give us insights about how co-operative works and how co-operatives
were able to reach success today. This had been the 4th success story from the webinar
series, and I really hope that I could still hear from other co-operatives from the country.
I was so amazed by how cooperatives were able to help the community even though the
cooperative itself experience struggles. I am looking forward for more learnings to come
and I am wishing as a future cooperator, that I’ll be part of a cooperative success in the
future.