Cooperative Development Authority Dagupan Extension Office Region I Philippines

1. A COMMITMENT FOR COOPS
IN THE LIFE OF A CEO
A Bible passage says... “For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will
be happy, and it will be well with you. (Psalm 128:2)”. This simply
describes the foundation of the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives
(NSCC) and describes how CEO DIVINA QUEMI works for NSCC and the
coop movement.
THE NSCC HISTORY
NSCC was conceptualized thru the brilliant minds of Archbishop Orlando B.
Quevedo, OMI, DD and Msgr. Ambrose L. Cabildo, MSW, JCC both of
the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. These two church leaders of the
Archdiocese created NSCC with the aim to have a viable and integrated
program among cooperatives and help catalyze the holistic development
of people within the Barangays and Municipalities of Ilocos Sur. The
founders were confident at that time to appoint a very young lady at age of
24, Ms. Divina Cabunoc now Mrs. Divina C. Quemi as the
caretaker/Manager and now the Chief Executive Officer.
The young CEO at that time had to learn what cooperative is, based on
experience, trainings and teachings from the founders and from her mentors.
First, she has to undergo a tedious process in registering the Consortium to
the Cooperative Development Authority. Second, the conduct of first
consultation meeting on June 7, 1992 and the organizational assembly on
July 5, 1992 to amend/ratify/approve the Articles and By-laws. Finally, it
was registered on September 17, 1992 with the Cooperative Development
Authority with a Registration Number DAG-2218. NSCC is now re-
registered on October 2009 under the RA 9520.
Like any organization, to start the operation is the hardest because
everything must have to start with a scratch. It was not easy as the
Cooperative only started with a minimal initial capital of only Thirteen
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2. Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P13,500.00) and with only two co-
employees who are working with her Mr. Rolando Parel and Mrs. Fely
Tugade.
The CEO and two co-employees during its early years
Though she was new to the cooperative movement, she strived hard to learn
and to possess the right attitude as a Cooperative Leader. She did not mind
receiving a salary of P450 a month, she has the willingness to devote herself
to work in the cooperative movement.
HER EXPERIENCE TAUGHT HER TO BECOME EXPERT COOP
LEADER
The young Manager thanked the guidance and support of the founders and
some of the pioneer officers like Mrs. Virginia Natividad Makil, Atty. Maria
Ellen Derige Cabatu, Mr. Jaime Gaboy, Jr., Dr. Caridad Tadena and Mr.
Bonifacio Rosales who gave their all out support and served as her mentors
in the Cooperative movement. She remembers that she was like a student
learning a lot from the teachings of these expert cooperative leaders.
The CEO while working with her mentors.
The CEO also learned the value of networking, she valued much attending to
different cooperative activities like meetings, seminars and conferences in
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3. order to learn more on proper handling of coop operation, learn from the
experiences of other cooperative leaders, make new friends in the
Cooperative movement and of course to promote NSCC to the network.
CEO ATTENDING DIFFERENT COOP ACTIVITIES IN AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY
THE CEO AS RECOGNIZED COOP LEADER IN LARGE COOP
NETWORK, NGOS AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Aside from working 24/7 in NSCC, the CEO still find time to network with
other big cooperative networks. She made her way to being one of the elite
coop leaders of NATCCO. She was elected as Board of Director for several
years and she also became an election officer. In the recently concluded
NATCCO 35th Annual General Assembly, she was elected as the Gender
Congress Representative which brought her back to the NATCCO Board.
CEO QUEMI IS ONE OF THE NATCCO OFFICIALS
The name NSCC did not only become popular in the cooperative network,
other organizations like NGOs and Government Organizations, have also
heard NSCC thru the CEO. Now she was even elected as Chairperson of an
international Non-Government Organization - the Oiko Credit Ecumenical
Cooperative Development Society’s Philippine Support Association.
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4. THE OLD TRAINING CENTER
Her wit, leadership ability and dedication in the cooperative movement made
her one of the Cooperative Sectoral Council Representative of the National
Anti-Poverty Commission.
CEO QUEMI WITH OIKO PSA OFFICIALS OATH TAKING OF COOP SECTORAL COUNCIL
REPRESENTATIVES OF NATIONAL ANTI-POVERTY
COMMISSION
THE COMMITMENT TO EMPOWER COOPERATIVES THRU
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAININGS
Another challenge for the young CEO was to win the trust and support of
Primary Cooperatives to NSCC. With the heIp and support of its officers
she initiated different programs and services for primary coop members.
NSCC provided primary cooperatives with credit services and capability
building services. NSCC coop members enjoy a low rate of interest in its
wholesale lending program. The said fund is being used by these
cooperatives in strengthening their capital build up thereby adding more
funds to support the projects of their members.
She initiated for the creation of a Wholesale Cooperative Lending
Program where funds of this shall come from different big financial
institutions in the country.. The accumulated funds from this program is
being used to relend to Primary Cooperatives at a very affordable rate of
interest. The aim of sourcing out funds for the primary cooperatives is to
always be ready at the time these cooperatives need financial assistance.
This program shall make primary cooperatives an instrument to alleviate
poverty within communities thru providing them capital to support the
livelihood of their members.
The young CEO also
mandated for the creation of
TRAINING PROGRAM
FOR COOPERATIVES.
First it established a small
training center as venue for
cooperative trainings. She
made trainings accessible for
cooperatives with its affordable training fees just enough to accommodate
the expenses. She also made some trainings free of charge thru writing
proposals to some institutions that catered free trainings for cooperative
development like the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, National
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5. Livelihood Development Corporation, and National Tobacco
Administration.
She also provided volunteer coaching services to some primary cooperatives
in order for them to succeed in their operation. Two of these cooperatives
are the Sugpunan Sisa Magsingal MPC and the IDF Community
Development Cooperative.
NSCC AS A CENTER OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
THRU THE NSCC PLAZA
The dream of the CEO to make NSCC the center for Cooperative business
and education did not stop from the establishment of the small training
center. She later on conceptualized a bigger training venue for cooperatives,
a wide function hall that is fully airconditioned, with hotel amenities and
services in order to give comfort to guests from the cooperative networks.
With the CEOs wish to finish this project, she led the sourcing of funds from
local and international source. Now, this building is built with all beauty
and grandeur in the heart of Caoayan in Metro Vigan, Ilocos Sur. The CEO
did not fail in her dream of making NSCC one of the center of cooperative
education not only in Region 1 but in the whole country as well.
The NSCC PLAZA and THE DIFFERENT LEARNING ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED
Another achievement was the accreditation of NSCC as an
accredited Training Provider for Cooperatives by the Cooperative
Development Authority. Aside from having expert pool of
Trainors where the CEO is one, NSCC have invited one reputable
training institution, the Social Enterprise Development
Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) and Ateneo de Manila University to
help NSCC capacitate the cooperatives thru providing affordable
and effective trainings and seminars.
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6. Meeting with SEDPI officers for NSCC
to become its Training Hub
CEO Quemi being one of the accredited trainors, she also conducts
trainings and seminars for small cooperatives. She helped DAR
Employees MPC on their Strategic Planning.
THE BOOST OF TOURISM IN THE NORTH THRU NSCC
PLAZA
One of the aim of the CEO why the NSCC plaza was built is to help promote
tourism in Ilocos Sur. The network of cooperatives can help boost tourism in
one place. NSCC Plaza now become the favorite destinations of
cooperatives from different parts of the country. With Coop activities like
Lakbay Arals, Forums, Trainings and Seminars, cooperatives in CAR
Region, North and Central Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao stays at NSCC
PLAZA. During their stay, they have the chance to visit different tourism
destinations in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and La Union.
The delegates of AWCF and St. Jude Cooperative during their stay at NSCC PLaza
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7. SIGNIFICANT PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
UNITS to BOOST COOPERATIVISM AND
MICROENTREPRENEURSHIP
With the humble leadership and effective management, NSCC have
established significant partnership with the Local Government Units
particularly in the Province of Ilocos Sur, City of Vigan and Municipality of
Caoayan. The partnership with Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur made
NSCC a fund manager of different livelihood programs for cooperatives and
microentrepreneurs.. The program started in 2002. The partnership was
even nominated for best NGO-LGU Partnership Award by the Senate of the
Philippines.
HON. VICE-GOVERNOR DEOGRACIAS VICTOR SAVELLANO HAND OVER CEREMONIAL CHECK
SYMBOLIZING FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO NSCC FOR THE LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS OF THE
PROVINCE
Likewise, the partnership between NSCC and the City Government of
Vigan has been running for more than a decade and it has been also
nominated for best NGO-LGU Partnership Award. This 2012, the City
Government of Vigan and NSCC won the Best NGO-LGU Partnership
Award in Region 1. The tie-up between the City Government and NSCC
aims to empower the Bigueno Microentrepreneurs, improve the pottery
industry, enhance and promote Vigan OTOP Products, empower Vigan
based cooperatives, and boost agriculture industry. The whole of this is one
package for the tie-up livelihood program of the City of Vigan and NSCC.
City Government Officials with CEO Quemi handling
financial loan assistance to Vigan Microentrepreneur
The LGU of the Municipality of Caoayan also transferred some of their
livelihood funds to NSCC to give support to farmers and for the
enhancement and marketing of their One Barangay One Product Program.
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8. Municipal Government Officials with CEO Quemi handling
financial loan assistance to Caoayan Farmer
With the different tie-up programs, NSCC is overwhelmed with the trust and
confidence extended by the said LGUS.. Handling these projects is not an
easy task for the Cooperative. However, NSCC still does its best to always
become an effective partner of the LGUs in their mandate to eradicate
poverty within their respective areas.
NSCC AS A MARKETING MEDIUM FOR LOCAL PRODUCTS
Another program that the CEO is giving priority is the marketing of the local
products. She wanted to make cooperatives as medium to promote the
products of the members in different market and network. NSCC is active in
joining trade fairs either invitation comes from local or national.
She also initiated the creation of NSCC MPC, a primary cooperative
organized by the employees of NSCC. This cooperative is buying local
products and agri products of members and is selling to the employees of
NSCC, and other patrons. The local product are displayed at the NSCC
Plaza and is being offered for sale as pasalubong to the guests of the
Plaza.NSCC Plaza also buys products of members like vegetables, fish,
breads, kakanins and others.
PROMOTION OF LOCAL PRODUCTS thru NSCC MPC PASALUBONG
CENTER
Part of the marketing program of the cooperative is the establishment of tie-
ups between the NSCC and the JOLLIBBEE FOUNDATION, CATHOLIC
RELIEF SERVICES and the NATIONAL LIVELIHOOD
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9. DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, LGUS OF SINAIT, VIGAN CITY
AND CAOAYAN, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN
PHILIPPINES. The program’s goal is to bring the local products like garlic,
white onions and corn to the different prominent markets of the country like
the Jollibee Foods Corporation.
SEVERAL MEETINGS CONDUCTED
FORTHE FARMERS
ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM IN
TIE-UP WITH JOLLIBBEE FOUNDATION,
NLDC, CRS, LGU AND ACADEME
NSCC FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For only twenty (20) years in operation, NSCC have made a marvelous
achievement of increasing its assets from Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred
Pesos (P13, 500.00) to half a billion assets (P548, 514,664.88) as of
December 2011. The area of operation also expanded from being a
provincial based to covering the whole of Luzon. The expansion led to the
creation of additional branches in the provinces of I locos Sur, I locos Norte,
Banquet, and La Union and helped employed 120 employees in different
parts of Region 1.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS RECEIVED by NSCC
NSCC have already received several awards and recognitions making it as
one of the top cooperatives in the whole country. Significant awards include
the following:
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10. NAME OF AWARD AWARDING DATE GIVEN
BODY
1. SEMI-FINALIST COOP – LGU Senate of the Philippines July 31, 2003
PARTNERSHIP AWARD 2003
(PARTNERSHIP WITH
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT)
2. MOST RECEPTIVE Socio-Economic Development September 30, 2003
COOPERATIVE Centre for Cooperative Education
(SEDCCOP)
3. PLAQUE OF RECOGNITION People’s Credit and Finance September 14, 2003
FUR SUCCESSFULLY EXTENDED Corporation
MICROFINANCE SERVICES TO
MARGINALIZED CLIENTS
4. PLACQUE OF RECOGNITION People’s Credit and Finance September 14, 2006
AND APPRECIATION Corporation
5. SIPAG AWARDS National Livelihood Support Fund September 25, 2006
6. FINALIST COOP – LGU Senate of the Philippines January 23, 2007
PARTNERSHIP AWARD 2006
(PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY
GOVERNMENT)
7. EXCELLENCE AWARD Cooperative Development March 10, 2007
Authority Region 1
8. SIPAG AWARDS – MOST National Livelihood Development September 2007
OUTSTANDING PROGRAM Corporation
PARTNER FOR REGIONS I,II AND
III
9. CERTIFICATE OF Banyan Academy October 25, 2008
APPRECIATION FOR NSCC’S
COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC
ENTERPRISE & MGT
EDUCTATION
10. 2010 SPECIAL AWARD Cooperative Development October 30, 2008
Authority Region 1
11. 2008 PROJECTION ACHIEVER Western Union Money Transfer February 18, 2009
Service
12, TOP 5 HIGHEST VOLUME OF Noble Printers and Publishers April 30, 2011 & April
JOB ORDERS Coop 2010
13. TOP 10 PATRONS AND Northern Luzon Federation of May 22, 2011
HIGHEST INVESTORS Cooperatives and Dep’t Centre
14. MOST OUTSTANDING COOP IN National Livelihood Development September 28, 2011
LUZON Corporation
15. TOP 5 SHARE CAPITAL National Confederation of May 27, 2012
CONTIBUTOR Cooperatives
16. BEST LGU – NGO AWARD National Economic Development February 2012
REGION 1 (WITH VIGAN CITY) Authority
17. ANNUAL CERTIFICATE OF City Government of Vegan January 2001 -January 25,
APPRECIATION FOR NSCC’S 2012
PARTICIPATION TO DIFFERENT
FIESTAS AND ACTIVITIES OF
VIGAN CITY
18. CERTIFICATE OF Different Cooperatives from 2011 and 2012
APPRECIATION FOR THE Luzon, Visa as and Mindanao
CONDUCT OF LAKBAY ARALS
AND SEMINARS
ACCREDITATIONS RECEIVED BY NSCC
1. Certificat of Commendation PHIL IDEAS COOPERATIVE April 15, 2012
on promoting a
Compassionate Conflict
Management Mechanism in
the Settlement of Disputes by
way of hosting the internship
component
2. Certificate of Partnership Asian Women in Coop Dev’t
Forum Nov. 27, 2010
3. Partnership for the Kapatiran Kapatiran of Netherlands November 8, 2010
Foundation - monitoring of
projects in Bacarra, Ilocos
Norte
4. Certificate of Accreditation Office of Transport Cooperatives March 1, 2010
5. Certificate of Accreditation – Philippine Coconut Authority August 24, 2007
10 Accredited Association of
Small Coconut Farmers
6. Certificate of Partnership Philippine Health Insurance October 27, 2006
Corporation
7. Certificate of Accreditation UCPB-CIIF Finance & Dev’t October 6, 2006

11. NSCC recipient of award during the 6th Sipag Awards of the National
Livelihood development Corporation
Below are Plaques and Certificates received by CEO Quemi
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12. The NSCC is a product of good leadership and innovative mind of the CEO.
With the support of the officers and staff, she
is slowly making NSCC a cooperative that
works for the poor, empowers cooperatives
and inspires coop leaders. NSCC is only two
decades old yet its accomplishments are
countless. NSCC continues to shine as a
cooperative working for limitless possibilities
for the good of all people being served and for
the glory of God. The star of NSCC shines
thru its CEO – MRS. DIVINA C. QUEMI....
Prepared by
ZENAIDA R. REÑO
Secretary
Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives
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