Eleven micro and small cooperatives in Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental decided to unify and merged together into one surviving cooperative, the Mindulao Farmers Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (MINFARCO), last July 31, 2024 at Kakilgan Beach Resort, Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental. The ten (10) micro cooperatives who took the plunge and decided to bind themselves as one with the Mindulao Farmers Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (MINFARCO), include the following :1) Samahang Nayon urban Poor Credit Cooperative; 2) Samahang Nayon Credit Cooperative; 3) San Isidro Samahang Nayon Credit Cooperative; 4) Abunda Samahang Nayon Credit Cooperative; 5) Villa Felipa Samahang Nayon Credit Cooperative; 6) Kibungsod Samahan Nayon Credit Cooperative; 7) Pag-asa Samahang Nayon Credit Cooperative; 8) Mindaularo Samahang Nayon; 9) Kasanag Producers Cooperative, and 10) Tibon-tibon Multipurpose Cooperative.
This momentous event was graced by the presence of the Mayor of Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, Hon. Charlie Buhisan, SB Chair of the Committee on Cooperatives, Hon. Bryan I. Bacoy and staff from the local government unit of Magsaysay. Present also during this activity are CDA personnel from the Head Office and Regional Extension Office 10 headed by Aminoden A. Elias, Asec. Myrla D. Paradillo, and none other than the Chairman of the Cooperative Development Authority, Usec. Joseph B. Encabo. The said event was also witnessed by the key officers of the eleven (11) merged cooperatives.
This journey took eight (8) months to get everything rolling until the merger was approved, sealed and launched. The process started with the courtesy visit last November 2023 by no less than Assistant Secretary Myrla B. Paradillo to the local government executive, Mayor Charlie Buhisan who also expressed his desire to help these micro cooperatives in his municipality grow and be viable socio-economic enterprises. Series of leg-works and consultations were initiated by representatives of the LGU and the CDA focal person, Ms. Charmee Joson-Neville, at the ground level. Time and efforts were given priority from the series of consultations, documentary preparations, legal advice until registration of the merger was consummated.
The launching of the eleven (11) cooperatives marked a milestone in the life of not just the cooperatives and its members but also the community as a whole. It is truly an event that demonstrates our pledge, “Alone I am weak, but with others, I am strong”.
