Governor Albert Garcia Congratulates Gawad PITAK Awardees of Bataan

Posted by: Irving E. Tanciongco
Edited by: Aliw Zurita-Jose

Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia congratulates two of the most promising cooperatives in Bataan, particularly in Mariveles, who were awarded the Gawad sa Pinakatatanging Kooperatiba (Gawad PITAK) by Land Bank of the Philippines.  Iwahori Multi-Purpose Cooperative placed 4^thwhile Watchlife Workers MPC bagged the 2^nd place in the Non-Agri-Based category bringing home Php150,000 and Php250,000 worth of fixed assets respectively.  From the numerous Land Bank-assisted coops in the Philippines, only 9 coops passed the rigid screening to qualify and become nominees for the said category.  The top five were selected from the nine (9) nominees and were consisted of two (2) coops from Bataan, one coop each from Antique, Surigao del Norte and Laguna.

Governor Abet Garcia, PCDO Head Zena Sugatain and 

LBP Account Officer Mar Guzman with the 

Officers of Iwahori MPC and Watchlife Workers MPC .

The Provincial Cooperative Development Office Chief Ms. Azucena E. Sugatain, who’s a mentor to both coops, is likewise very happy and proud of Iwahori MPC and Watchlife Workers MPC’s recent achievement.

The Gawad PITAK, now on its 23rd year, has become a symbol of honor and prestige for LANDBANK-assisted cooperatives that continue to survive and sustain operation amidst environment’s risks and threats.   “It has been a tradition of LANDBANK every year to honor outstanding cooperatives that have contributed in promoting a robust economy in their areas of operation,” LANDBANK president and CEO Gilda E. Pico said.

Iwahori Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IMPC) started humbly as Iwahori Employees Credit Cooperative (IECC) in 1991 whose membership (only 29 then) was limited to the employees and workers of Iwahori Philippines, manufacturer of disposable gas lighters in Bataan Economic Zone, Mariveles, Bataan.  Their primary business was lending. With a working capital of Php40,000 in 1991, IMPC had gone a long way and now continues to operate with 2,177 members, a capital of Php50Million plus assets worth of Php133Million. From their core business of lending, they now have diversified businesses which include among others, van and stall rental, appliances trading, consumer goods and rice trading, microfinance, photocopying, and ID lamination, money remittance and gym and wellness services.  The newest service IMPC now offers is the automated teller machine for its members and non-members in the community. Their concern is not only about making money and expanding businesses but also in community services like medical mission, environmental projects and programs for the youth and elderly.  When asked how they felt about getting the award, Manager Marilou Almario replied, “we are happy and sad at the same time, happy because we again made it to the 5 awardees, sad that we didn’t achieve what we aimed for, the 1^stplace.  Nevertheless, what’s more important is we will keep on doing better until we become the best.” IMPC was given the 3^rd and 2^nd place for the same award in the years 2011 and 2012.

Watchlife Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (WWMPC)on the other hand, was organized in 2005 by 25 factory workers, all of whom working in Mitsumi Philippines, Inc., manufacturer of electronic devices and a locator in Bataan Economic Zone, also in Mariveles, Bataan.  From lending business, they have ventured into other businesses such as deposit servicing, space rentals, trading rentals and rice trading. As a new offering to its members, they will soon be purchasing a long van (23-seater), that would help transport member-workers from Mitsumi to their homes in nearby towns and vice versa.  Just after 7 years of operation and from Php175,000.00 initial capital in 2005, they now have Php21Millionpaid-up capital and 1,862 proud members.  Assets worth is now Php59Million and still growing.  They are also involved in community services such as scholarship program, gift giving, and coastal clean-up among others. “We are just doing our jobs of providing quality services, and receiving awards like this is already a bonus for us!” quoted from Ms. Charito Abaya, Manager of WWMPC.