History

On April 7, 1969, a group of Episcopalian Church leaders came together and organized the Besao Credit Cooperative Union (BCCU). It was registered on June 17, 1969 under Republic Act N0. 2032 with the Cooperative Administration Office (CAO). It started with 25 members and the initial capital was Fifty Pesos (P50.00).

It was re-registered with the Bureau of Cooperative Development pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 175 and Letter of Instruction No. 23. The growing needs of the members led to the amendments of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws from credit to a Multi-Purpose cooperative.  A certificate of registration was obtained on October 3,1991 after it was confirmed on February 5,1991 with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in conformity with Republic Act 6938. Its name was then changed from Besao Credit Cooperative Union to Besao Multi-Purpose Cooperative. On November 12, 2009, BMPC was re-registered with the CDA as required under Republic Act 9520.

During the organizational meeting,the first elected Board of Directors were:

President: Fr. Robert Pekas
Vice President: Mr. Robert Dang-awen
Treasurer: Fr. Gabriel Pogeyed
Secretary: Mr. John L. Botengan Sr.

Members:

• Mr. Enrique Macalingay
• Mr. Arthur Doyodoy
• Mr. Francis Padalla 
• Mrs. Gloria Bantog
• Fr. Francis Daytec
• Mr. Pablo Gomuad
• Mrs. Adeline Sacoy
• Mr. Philip Estangki
• Mr. Johnson Bantog
• Mr. Esteban Tiwaken
• Mr. Fernando Palaleo

Other Incorporators;

• Mrs. Ricarda Pekas        
• Mr. Lucas Buned
• Miss Lillian Karlot 
• Mr. Eusebio Cuagat
• Miss Isidora Boteng  
• Mrs. Pacita Estangki
• Miss Margarita Galongot  
• Mr. AnselmoPekas
• Miss Sylvia Kollin
• Mrs. Louisa Pogeyed

The cooperative started its office at Saint James High School, Kin-iway, Besao, Mountain Province sharing with the principal’s tables, chairs and typewriters. The following year, to safe keep the Cooperative’s money, the school’s vault was utilized thus the necessity of appointing the principal, Mr. John Botengan as the treasurer and Fr. Gabriel Pogeyed as the BOD President.

The following year, the BCCU added a consumer store in one of the classrooms of St. James High School. Also, a barbershop was included as one of the services of the coop manned by Mr. Simon Lino but did not last long because it was found out that this was not in the Articles of Incorporation. The consumers store stayed in the school for two years but due to the increasing enrollment, the consumers store was moved to the present site, which was still owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines. Mr. Phillip Estangki was appointed treasurer of the consumers store while Mrs. Rita Lisweg was appointed as treasurer of the credit services which was also moved to a small room behind the municipal hall.

In 1976, the consumers store had to close because of management inefficiency. The credit service continued but with a very slow progress. Alarmed by the sluggish growth of the cooperative, the BOD urgently met to solve the situation in 1981. The BOD discounted dissolution; instead,a re-organization was made to revive the dying institution. The body appointed Mrs. Lydia Lebeng as part-time Treasurer and with appointed Managing Board. It was imperative to infuse more capital into the coop so the Board declared not to give the members’ yearly dividends in cash but was instead plowed back as share capital. Furthermore, a new service product, the Mortuary Aid Plan was introduced which invited numerous membership after they have confirmed the assistance beneficial in times of death of a member.  With the perseverance, dedication and loyalty on the part of the staff, the Board of Directors, committees and the members, the coop rose from near bankruptcy and had reported an asset of more than half a million pesos in 1985 marking the 15th year of its operation.  Net surplus was seventy three thousand four hundred sixty one pesos and seventy one centavos (73,461.71) and membership was over three hundred. 

The coop became a millionaire coop in 1986. At this point, the BOD decided to rent the first floor of Pengosros’ residence to house the cooperative. Additional management staff was employed with Mrs. Mary Pagadian was part-time treasurer from 1982-1988 until Mrs. Rosaline Agdaca was hired as full-time treasurer in the later part of 1988. Mrs. Lydia Lebeng served as part time bookkeeper from 1985 – 1990 and part time manager in 1991- 1994. Mrs. Joan Padong was employed in the later part of 1990 as full-time bookkeeper. Mrs. Elsie Lomong-oy was hired as a full time bookkeeper in 1991 then promoted as a full time manager on July 1994-1999.

After twenty five years of operation, the cooperative acquired its own lot and building on February 22, 1994 from the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines where all the business operations of the cooperative are presently based. The lot and building is a living proof that the coop has gone a long way from a struggling coop to a million-peso enterprise of its own and keep abreast with technological advances.

In 1999, total membership was 1,945. The minimum share capital of each member was P3,000.00. The total asset of the cooperative has increased and it received several awards from the Provincial, Regional and National levels. Indeed, the Besao Multi-Purpose Cooperative was an awardee of the Land Bank of the Philippines GAWAD PITAK and ABS-CBN UGAT Foundation Award. It is the embodiment of the outstanding service to the community, contributing to its development and the nation as a whole.

CY 2000 is marked by the aggressive expansion and introduction of new service programs. The effect of this could be seen in the increase of loan products and the operational gains. But it was in this year that an organizational problem cropped. Erring staff were dismissed or suspended and committees and BODs were suspended and banned from holding any position in the cooperative for 5 years. Mrs. Lillian Beswilan was then promoted as the new manager and Mrs. Andrea Placido became the cashier/treasurer.

Year 2001, the cooperative experienced the effect of the following problems such as: liquidity problem, high delinquency rate, withdrawals of share capital and savings deposits, and suspension of service delivery which is the prime program of the coop to its members.  At the height of the problem, the Officers and staff were challenged and worked hard to make the coop operate in a normal situation.

In year 2002, the coop was chosen as the partner organization of the Department of Agrarian Reform in the implementation of a special project called Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP II) with Northern Luzon Federation of Cooperative and Development Center(NORLU CEDEC) as the Local Based Partner Institution (LBPI) in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) to implement the Institutional Development Component (IDC). As such, the coop officers and staff were assisted technically in terms of capability building, financial and business operations skills development. Likewise, agricultural development project funded by ARISP II was implemented in the year 2003 to assist the coop members in their financial capital on High Value Crops and livestock production projects.

CY 2003, the Social Health Insurance program started at the cooperative with initial 20 members. At present, there are ___ members benefitting and it became a joint community health programof the Local Government Unit, Besao District Hospital and Besao Multi-purpose Cooperative. It is now called “Og-ogbo for Health.”

CY 2004, the coop 3 storeyconcrete building was constructed replacing the old structure. The ground floor serves as the consumer store, 2nd floor is the coop office and the 3rd floor is for lodging and conference hall.

CY 2006, the Post Harvest Facility (PHF) building was constructed at the coop lot in Dumdumacog funded by the DAR ARISP II program and 9 counterpart from the cooperative. At present, it is being utilized as a processing center for jams, jellies, concentrates and camote products. It is being managed by the Ubaya association to help the coop members have livelihood projects.

The cooperative had been a recipient of various awards from the Landbank of the Philippines, ABS-CBN, Government Agencies and Coop Unions and Affiliations. (For details, view awards and citations at {insert link here}) 

In 2013, the 4th floor of the cooperative building was constructed which is now the conference hall and board room. The 2nd floor was renovated into bank-like offices.

In 2016, the weaving industry started in Domdomacog using our award from the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute Poverty Alleviation Program and Governance) Foundation in the amount of P250,000 as the initial capital. With the additional capital from the cooperative fund, the weaving industry went full operation in 2017.

To expand and to bring our services nearer to our members residing in Baguio City and its nearby places the Satellite Office was fully established in July 2018. There was therefore a necessity to create the positions of Account Officer I and Collector.

 

At present the construction of the 2^nd storey of the Post Harvest Facility building in Domdomacog which is funded by the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) for the consolidation and processing center of our coffee project is still on going.

BMPC is the only bank-like institution operating in the municipality. The growth trend shows an evidence of perseverance, commitment and sincerity of all the stakeholders behind the cooperative most particularly the members.  Without their support, our cooperative should have not reached where it is now.

EMPLOYEES OF BMPC FROM 1969 TO THE PRESENT(as of August 2013)

 

GROWTH TREND