It’s gift-giving time again for all the citizens of the planet, especially to the most Christian part of the world, knowing that December is here, and Christmas is fast approaching.
“If you could give a gift to the world, what would it be?” I asked myself. I pondered on it for several minutes, and realized it’s a difficult task, considering there are a myriad of things I would like to give to the world’s inhabitants. But that was my conscience asking myself.
And so when I asked the same question to myself being chairperson of the DCCCO Board of Directors (the last seven years now), I realized it seemed an easy question to deal with.
In fact, we at DCCCO have answered that question; on top of that, the gifts have been given a long time ago, and we continue to give these gifts to this day.
So whether it’s Christmas time or not, either the weather condition is sunny or stormy, whether the country’s economy is bullish or bearish, the Coop continues to give gifts that could last a lifetime.
DCCCO is not just a place where people turn to when they urgently need financial help. It might have started that way but as the cooperative grew, it has become an institution whose “inclusive approach” has benefitted thousands of Aflatoun members, malnourished children, 4Ps beneficiaries, farmers, fisherfolks, dressmakers, tricycle drivers, laborers, tempura and market vendors, persons with disability, and all the other marginalized groups here in Dumaguete and in Negros Oriental, in Bayawan City, Bais City, Guihulngan City, San Carlos City, Kabankalan City, in the municipalities of Sibulan and Siaton, and in the province of Siquijor.
Because of the assistance, thousands of economically- disadvantaged people have been able to send their children to college, countless individuals have been able to establish business ventures, thousands of marginal people have been able to make their livelihood endeavors sustainable for the years to come.
Due to these small yet significant victories, because of these unannounced yet substantial triumphs, the Coop has attracted thousands of additional members. Today, our membership has swelled to 84,000. From its very humble beginnings, it has grown to eight branches across the Negros Island and Siquijor, with over P3 billion in total assets.
In 2012, DCCCO was awarded the Most Outstanding Cooperative in the country (large category) yet, it didn’t sit on its laurels. It continued to find ways of improving its services, fast-tracking its processes, and innovate on its products so that it can additionally provide first-rate assistance to everyone who enters its doors.
With its efforts and initiatives, the Coop persistently reaped the fruits of its labors. As proof of its remarkable undertakings, it was ranked No. 8 in the roster of Billionaire Cooperatives in the Philippines in 2014.
This year, Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation & Governance) chose the DCCCO Multipurpose Cooperative as one of the Most Outstanding Community Enterprises in the Philippines for the 2016 Villar SIPAG Awards for Poverty Reduction.
DCCCO received a cash prize of P250,000 and a Villar SIPAG Award trophy on Dec. 9 in Manila
It’s Christmas time so once again, DCCCO is giving out calendars and other goodies to loyal members. But for the Coop, these material gifts are just ‘icing on the cake’ as material aid is not everything.
Members of the Coop will reflect with much affection on how DCCCO has helped them bridge the gaps of their lives. Members will reflect on how the Coop assisted them in difficult times. They will ponder on how DCCCO aided them in making their children become professionals (in spite of their being impoverished), and in helping turn their businesses into sustainable undertakings. Members will realize on how DCCCO has protected the environment and promoted food security.
So what gift can I give to the world? I just might give a Global DCCCO, an A1 Competitive Choice for Excellence in Service & Soundness (ACCESS), branded and a world-class multipurpose cooperative.
And when that happens, everyone will be included in the pursuit for economic stability and happiness. With a Global DCCCO, no one will be left behind.
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Author’s email: wea_129@yahoo.com
