The 6th Cooperative Principle “Cooperation among Cooperatives” was embodied last June 23, 2021 as the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) Network features Tagum Cooperative on its first ever Virtual Learning Visit attended by more than 25 Cooperatives around the country.
Participating coops had a peek of Tagum Cooperative’s history, products and services, and advocacies plus a virtual tour of TC’s Head Office located in Magugpo West, Tagum City.
Also included in the virtual visit is the emphasis on Tagum Cooperative’s digital transformation wherein members’ continuous education is conducted through online trainings, webinars, and ownership meetings and the successful first ever Virtual 3rd Annual Representative Assembly last March 28, 2021.
TC Chairperson Noel O. Quidilla mentions to the overwhelming number of participants in his welcome message – “Tagum Cooperative is known for being generous in sharing its best practices to cooperative visitors. In the previous years, we always welcomed more than 20 coops from different regions per year. I hope this virtual tour will give you new learnings that may help you in your operations during this trying time.”
Prior to the presentation of Tagum Cooperative’s colorful history, Chief Executive Officer Ms. Juris D. Perez pronounced, “We are honored and humbled to be chosen by NATCCO to share our best practices and strategies to survive and emerge victorious amidst the pandemic. Moreover, we are likewise excited to learn from our fellow cooperators present on how they managed to operate in the new normal”.
A productive Open Forum is staged as the Tagum Cooperative Board of Directors and Officers, and fervent TC Management answers the questions with utmost accuracy and depth.
One of the questions for the Open Forum is stated as “For more than 50 years of operation, what would you consider as the co-op’s biggest obstacle or crisis and how did you overcome it?” Dir. Monica L. Salido responded by passionately narrating their struggles way back in the early 1990s wherein a coup d’etat within the Board of Directors occurred which almost ended Tagum Cooperative. But with God’s grace and perseverance by the righteous Officials, the truth has prevailed and has been the core foundation of what Tagum Cooperative is today.
In addition, visiting coops inquired on how Tagum Coop achieved critical success and impressive growth for 2020 despite the challenging pandemic. Dir. Nenita R. Malbas answered that operations continued based on the set strategic goals with good teamwork between Officers and the Management. Members were also responsible in paying their loan obligations despite the implementation of Bayanihan Acts.
The learning visit concluded with a humorous message from the Dir. Janet T. Matuguinas, BOD Vice-Chairperson “Sana kung wala lang si Covid you were able to visit our place and be able to see us in person. But with this virtual learning visit you’ll have something to look forward to after this pandemic.”