Year 2019, the world was shattered by an unknown pathogen from the city of Wuhan, China that kills millions in the span of two (2) months. As the cases rises and the mortality rate is traversing in an unprecedented growth, the World Health Organization declared the disease as pandemic and announces the name as Corona Virus Disease-19 or CoViD-19. The world shut down its border to avoid the massive spread of contagion that resulted to the automatic shutdown of the world economy. And it excuses no one. In South Pacific Asia, the disease causes daunting disruptions that halted the normal day to day living into restrictions and quarantines. Movement of goods, people, products and services are curtailed by government pronouncements and policies to mitigate the increasing toll of infections.

All industries suffer from unabated losses. Like in the Philippines, cooperative sector who serves the unbankable and the vulnerable community was a direct hit of the state policies and local orders. A member owned organization who relies the entirety of its operation from the patronage of its member-owners was restrained from doing its normal operation especially on its day to day activity, and Pantukan Chess Club Multipurpose Cooperative (PCCMPC) was one of the many. PCCMPC serves the grassroots community in the Southern part of Davao Region, specifically in the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental. Farmers, sari-sari store owners, ambulant vendors, tricycle drivers are among the stakeholders of the cooperative that upholds ownership and perseverance in a continuing endeavor to girder the sustainability of the organization. The pandemic turns out to become a tremendous nightmare and draws enormous challenge on the side of the cooperative leadership and management to withhold the level of service that the stakeholders has expected in the time of crisis. The national and local government calls for proactive response in providing support to the community to align with the actions in securing each and every filipino to combat against the pandemic. The support needed to at least subtle the condition of food scarcity, work displacement and health security are fallouts caused by the disruption that needs to be addressed bluntly by private and public organizations. PCCMPC with its commitment and dedication to go hand in hand in concerted effort with the prevailing health safety protocols set by the IATF, was able to craft Quick Response Action Program (QRAP) as immediate and statutory resolution to contained the spread of the disease in the office premises as well as to its members and employees. The co-op also donates canopies in various municipality for the purpose of initiating health and safety measures by the PNP personnel. Giving of food packs, face mask, hand sanitizers, alcohol, fruits and vitamins to the health personnel was a continues action given to the forntliners in all areas of operation. Extending food supply to the identified Barangay Isolation Units (BIU) was also one of the activities initiated by the PCCMPC in the city of Mati, Davao Oriental and Tagum City, Davao del Norte. The cooperative also instigated the “Adopt-a-Family” program to selected beneficiaries in the locality a s sustenance for their living. In support of providing temporary shelter to the frontliners, PCCMPC Hostel and Training Center was privileged to secure room for occupancy by our medical personnel who we considered to be our “heroes”.

On the other hand, while most of the patronizers of the co-op services hurled by the continuous activity of their socio-economic enterprise, PCCMPC adheres to the RA 10146 or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act to provide financial relief to member-borrowers of the cooperative by providing moratorium or non-collection of payments within the specific period during the peak of the pandemic. The cooperative also designed loan products to safeguard the credit worthiness of its member-patrons and to consistently extend financial support through its calamity loan and rehabilitation loan windows.

Elsewhere, in support to the Education sector, PCCMPC have given bond papers and inks to identified school in the Region for the printing of modules and documents needed as the implementation of blended learning modality is in effect. The cooperative has its ways and means to address the needs of its constituents as well as the community who the co-op pledges to serve. In furtherance, PCCMPC will continue to support initiatives, programs and activities of the GOs and NGOs for the benefit of its membership and greater community.

Moreover, PANTUKAN CHESS CLUB MULTIPURPOSE COOPERATIVE looks beyond the principle of depicting paradigm and took hold of every stakeholder’s pride as our coop, our way, our life.