True to its tenets, the cooperative sector of Bislig heeded the call of the government to help the community in the nation’s battle against the dreaded COVID-19 virus.
The City Cooperative Development Council (CCDC) has launched KOOP BAYANIHAN, a relief operations project organized mainly to help Bisliganons who have been drastically affected by this global pandemic.
#CoopsAgainstCOVID19 from various asset-size category: micro, small, medium and large; came together to showcase the values that has nurtured the sector – service, equity and compassion. Initially, CCDC has pooled a total of Two Hundred Sixty Thousand and Five Hundred Pesos (P260,500.00) as pledges to jumpstart the noteworthy cause. Funds collected for the program was sourced-out from the individual cooperative’s Community Development Fund (CDF) following directives issued by Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) allowing them to utilize the CDF to help families affected by work deferments. The CDF is allocated purposely to fund projects or activities that will benefit the community within the area of operation of the cooperative. Altruistic individuals also took part of sharing their monetary help thru the program.
The sector targets more than 1,000 beneficiaries to receive food packs specifically those who are from the vulnerable, marginalized and informal sector in the community. The initiative was also mobilized through the facilitation of the City Cooperative Development Office, headed by Mr. Almar B. Autida.
The dispersal of food packs was carried through clustered approach via identified cooperatives that will serve as the official distribution centers of the area. This includes; Mangagoy Fishermen Cooperative (Mangagoy), Tabon Secondary Teachers MPC (Tabon), Andres Soriano Memorial Hospital Cooperative (Cumawas/San Isidro) and Bislig Community and Government Employees MPC (Poblacion). Transportation services was also made possible by the benevolence of JODAB Transport Services MPC making sure that the whole distribution process, including its manpower gets to their destination hassle-free.
With the 2nd wave of distribution already pipelined, it only shows how serious cooperatives are in its campaign to help the Bislig community. Collectively, they remain steadfast in its commitment to provide the much needed service to its members amidst the crisis, — working together, living up to the spirit of cooperativism, and showcasing that truly, cooperativism is the countervailing force against this pandemic. ***MMG/nrcb. (*WWC –World War Against Covid)
