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A SHINING EXAMPLE: THE JOURNEY OF ZCGEMPCO’S SOLAR LAMPS PROJECT The Zamboanga City Government Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (ZCGEMPCO) stands as a beacon of hope, showcasing the remarkable power of community collaboration to address the pressing call for environmental stewardship. Through their transformative Solar Lamps Project, they have not only diminished their carbon footprint but have also elevated the quality of life for their cherished members. “I am fully aware that there are barangays here in Zamboanga City that do not have electricity, and during one of our meetings, I came up with the idea of providing solar lamps to the communities that do not have any electricity at all,” shares Leonor Arebalo Aison, the dynamic manager of ZCGEMPCO. She passionately continues: “One reason for the project is to help improve the peace and order in the city. By putting solar lamps around dark areas, we could maybe at least help eradicate illegal activities.” In the year 2021, the co-operative took its first step by procuring 100 solar lamps, thoughtfully distributing 50 in Tulungatong and the remaining 50 in Azcuna. Within a year, their commitment to progress was further illuminated when a dedicated teacher from Sta. Fe Elementary School reached out for support, requesting a solar panel to power a computer and printer for their school. Hand in hand with fellow co-operatives in the region, ZCGEMPCO led the charge in donating solar panels and lamps to numerous underserved areas. Aison shares the heartwarming financial aspect, saying: “The budget came from Community Development Funds and this project was also in collaboration with the Zamboanga City Cooperative Development Council. We solicited funds coming from different co-operatives in Zamboanga and out of the pulled funds, we were able to procure solar lamps and panels.” The utilization of solar lamps has surged in recent years as the world embraces the significance of renewable energy sources. The installation of these solar gems not only enriched the lives of co-operative members but also radiated positivity throughout the wider community. However, the advantages of the Solar Lamps Project extend far beyond the economic spectrum. These luminous creations have positively impacted the health and well-being of community members, offering not only a safer but also a consistently brighter source of light. “We, as co-op leaders, should continue to address climate change because you know here in Zamboanga City, we experienced flooding for the first time in October 2022,” Aison reflects with determination. “We have to continue planning and implementing programs that are good for the environment, such as planting trees and clean-up drives. Anything for the environment and for as long as our co-op could help and provide, we really give attention and time to it.” The adoption of solar lamps has remarkably reduced the community’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources, thereby making a significant stride towards combatting climate change. This holds particular significance in the Philippines, a nation acutely vulnerable to the far-reaching impacts of climate change.   Medella Vilas, President of Azcuna Homeowners Association Inc. in Barangay Mercedes, a resettlement area in Zamboanga City, exudes gratitude and relief for the arrival of solar lamps in their community.  ” “We would like to thank the co-ops so much for providing us with these solar panels,” Vilas rejoices. “It did not only help in providing light on our streets but also shedding light on our livelihoods.” The homeowners earnestly encourage fellow co-operatives to follow in the exemplary footsteps of ZCGEMPCO, extending light to households with limited or nonexistent access to electricity. Vilas adds with warmth: “I want to thank them big for seeing us as one of the communities deserving of their help and services. A lot of the members here are thankful for the help they have provided and I will be their voice in thanking the co-operative.” ZCGEMPCO’s Solar Lamps Project serves as an inspiring model for communities around the globe to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal of environmental protection. Through unity and harnessing the potential of renewable energy sources, communities cannot only enhance their own quality of life but also lay the foundation for a sustainable future for all. Officers of the Azcuna Homeowners Association of Brgy. Mercedes, Zamboanga City. Their community is one of the beneficiaries of ZCGEMPCO Solar Lamp Project. ZCGEMPCO installed 50 solar-powered lamps in Azcuna, Barangay Mercedes, Zamboanga City. These lamps automatically turns on during nighttime. The women officers of the Azcuna Homeowners Association, Inc. of Brgy. Mercedes, Zamboanga City with their President, Medella Vilas (at the center) Leonor A. AizonGeneral Manager of ZCGEMPCO Recent stories EMBRACING HEALTH AND WELLBEING AS TRUE TREASURES WITH YAKAP EMBRACING HEALTH AND WELLBEING AS TRUE TREASURES WITH YAKAP Healthcare… Read More July 21, 2023

EMBRACING HEALTH AND WELLBEING AS TRUE TREASURES WITH YAKAP Healthcare is a basic human right, yet millions of people around the world lack access to it. In the Philippines, poverty is a major barrier to receiving proper medical attention. But the Sta. Catalina Credit Cooperative (SCCC) and Sta. Catalina Multipurpose Cooperative (SCMPC) in the Province of Cotabato took a step towards addressing this issue by providing an affordable HMO program for its co-op members called YAKAP. YAKAP, which stands for “Yaman ang Kalusugan Program,” is a program that aims to provide quality healthcare to co-operative members and their families. The said HMO program covers hospitalization, outpatient services, and preventive care, among others. It is designed to be affordable, with members paying around Php2,950 as an annual premium for the basic plan. “We started YAKAP in 2019, so it has been 4 years already, and we could say that we have a lot of members who have availed of and appreciated this program,” says Fe Pineda, Chief Executive Officer of SCCC and SCMPC. “Every assembly, we have an announcement where we market the YAKAP program. In fact, we are giving enough time to explain to our members the program and its benefits.” Pineda adds that they also introduce this program during their Pre-Membership Education Seminars (PMES), so new members can avail of it. The program is particularly important for financially- challenged members who would otherwise be unable to afford proper medical care. With YAKAP, they have access to quality healthcare services without having to worry about the financial burden. This is a significant step towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal on health and wellbeing. “The co-operative movement was established to help alleviate poverty in our community and it is a must to participate actively in disseminating awareness of the health and wellbeing programs to our members,” Pineda shares. “The co-op should provide assistance that is affordable to people and invest in programs such as YAKAP. The YAKAP program is not just about providing healthcare services, it also encourages members to take care of their health through preventive measures. The program includes regular check-ups, health education sessions, and access to wellness programs. This holistic approach to health care ensures that members are not only treated when they are sick but are also empowered to take care of their health and prevent illnesses. The story of Felicitas Macanas, a 65-year-old retiree from the Landbank of the Philippines, is a testament to the significance of YAKAP. “This service helped me twice already since 2021,” Macanas says. “Last 2021, I had an operation and they provided me PHP20,000 for it, and last year I had another surgery. The doctors were not able to see the lump in my stomach the first time so I had to undergo two surgeries. During both surgeries, I was able to get benefits from YAKAP.” The Sta. Catalina co-operatives have set an example for others to follow. By providing an affordable HMO program for their members, they have shown that it is possible to address the issue of healthcare inequality. Macanas shares: “I do enjoy the services that I got from the co-op. Whenever there are problems, the co-operative is ready to help us. I hope that knowing my story, you would try to be one of the members of a co-op; you will not regret it because of the good services that co- operatives offer to us.” YAKAP is a testament to the power of co-operatives to make a difference in the lives of their members and their communities. Both my husband and I availed of the YAKAP program and we did not regret it,” shares Arlita Sarcon. “I did thank my neighbor for introducing us to the co- operative and the YAKAP program,” Sarcon adds. “I wouldn’t have had enough budget for my operations and hospitalizations.” When asked why should co-operators take an active role in addressing health awareness and promoting health and wellbeing, Sarcon answers: “We should take an active role because just like me, we are not getting any younger, so our top priority should always be our health and we should take care of it well.” YAKAP serves as an exemplary model of how co- operatives can contribute to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of promoting health and wellbeing. With its cost-effective HMO program for low- income members, the Sta. Catalina co-ops have made high-quality healthcare services available to those who require them the most. This initiative is a testament to the capacity of co-operatives to generate positive transformation in their local communities. The office of Sta. Catalina Credit Cooperative in Kidapawan City, Cotabato Province. The co-operatives main office is located in Poblaction, President Roxas, Cotabato Province. Recent stories EMBRACING HEALTH AND WELLBEING AS TRUE TREASURES WITH YAKAP EMBRACING HEALTH AND WELLBEING AS TRUE TREASURES WITH YAKAP Healthcare… Read More msp-adminJuly 21, 2023

AGRIBEST: EMPOWERING FARMERS, EMPOWERING LIVES In the Philippines, smallholder farmers are the backbone of the agricultural sector. However, they are often marginalized and lack access to the resources needed to succeed. The AgriBEST (Agri-based Enterprise Systems) program, launched by MASS-SPECC, is an inspiring initiative to empower smallholder farmers, develop co-operatives, and promote sustainable agriculture. The program recognizes that poverty is a significant issue in Mindanao and that smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable. Through the program, farmers receive technical training, financial support, and market linkages that enable them to increase theirproductivity and income while also promoting environmental sustainability. “We are happy that MASS-SPECC introduced AgriBEST to us because it really addressed our needs,” shares Sheila Marie Apacible, General Manager of Banga Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (BARCCO). “At present, the status of our rice farming is not good, we’re struggling, so we are looking for other ways to help our members get extra income.” One of the key benefits of the AgriBEST program is its focus on developing co-operatives. Co-operatives are a powerful tool for promoting economic development and social inclusion, and the program is working to build the capacity of smallholder farmers to organize themselves into clusters. “To become part of the project, a member needs to have at least 300 sqm of land to be cultivated for rice farming and hito (catfish) production,” Apacible says. “We are now in the second cycle of our hito production and we plan on creating a cluster for those who were successful so they can help us in the monitoring and in assisting other members,” she says. Financial support is another key component of the AgriBEST program. Farmers have access to credit, government support, new technology, and even business development services. “Hito production was challenging at first, but thank God, we were able to learn a lot from the training and now we are able to harvest already,” shares Monico Defenio Jr., a former OFW and a present member of the BARCCO Board of Directors. “Clustering is good for us because we get inputs from individuals and we can help one another, especially in monitoring our fish pond.” Juanito Bandiola, who has been with the co-operative for 24 years, agrees that hito production has a big potential as a source of livelihood and in addressing food security issues in the region. “Hito requires big financing but it has a big income and it only requires a small area, compared to rice farming,” Bandiola says. “When it comes to encouraging other members, we tell them that even if they do not have prior knowledge about fisheries, as long as they are willing to learn, they will really learn.” Bandiola continues: “I can really see that the beneficiaries of AgriBEST are happy with the help that it has provided. Aside from them being able to provide food for their families, they receive income from it.” By providing farmers with appropriate resources and support, the program helps to build their financial resilience and enables them to weather economic shocks. Apacible says: “We are looking forward to our farmer- members being financially stable where they can have an extra source of income aside from planting rice. We hope they become self-sufficient. If the farmers are financially stable, they can focus on developing their lands, and at the same time they can promote peace and order in the community.” Through its focus on empowering farmers and building sustainable livelihoods, the AgriBEST program is also contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of poverty alleviation. “We joined AgriBEST because it really is a big program that offered to us the opportunity to earn more so we could financially help ourselves,” says Ariane Dawn Domingo, a new member of BARCCO. Elmer Domingo has the same sentiments with AgriBEST: “We have encountered many challenges with the hito business. We did not have prior knowledge when it comes to fisheries. The cultivation also took about 8 months. Despite all these, BARCCO was able to provide us with seminars and we are thankful for the help AgriBEST was able to provide us. It really made a big impact on our lives.” By helping farmers to increase their productivity and income, the program is enabling them to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. AgriBEST not only benefits the farmers themselves but also contributes to the overall economic development of their communities.   Siblings Ariane Dawn Domningo and Elmer Domingo from Banga, South Cotabato are members of Banga Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (BARCCO) and one of the beneficiaries of the Agri-BEST Program One of the fish ponds in the hito farm of the Domingo siblings located in Barangay Malaya, Banga, South Cotabato. Recent stories EMBRACING HEALTH AND WELLBEING AS TRUE TREASURES WITH YAKAP EMBRACING HEALTH AND WELLBEING AS TRUE TREASURES WITH YAKAP Healthcare… Read More msp-adminJuly 21, 2023