Luzon, Visayas cooperatives donate for 'Pablo' victims

COMPOSTELA, Compostela Valley -- Cooperatives in Luzon and in Visayas have coursed their donations through Tagum Cooperative to reach out to Typhoon Pablo victims in this province.

Tagum Cooperative chairperson of the Board of Directors Norma Pereyras said over the weekend that a total of P370,000 in donations was entrusted to Tagum Cooperative from the Cebu CFI (Court of First Instance) Community Cooperative, which pitched in P300,000; San Jose Del Monte Cooperative in Bulacan, P10,000; Novaliches Development Corp, P20,000; and CLIMBS Life Insurance, P40,000.

"They're giving it without us asking them," Pereyras said, referring to the donation in cash that Tagum Cooperative is using to purchase food items and to contribute to rehabilitation of damaged residences of typhoon victims.

As its counterpart, Tagum Cooperative matched the amount of donation coursed through it by allied cooperatives on top of the money that was supposed to be spent for its annual Christmas gathering of officials and employees.

"The board passed a resolution to cancel our Christmas Party. Instead, we‘ve kept he money for typhoon victims," she said.

Estimating the total amount of donation to run more than P700,000, including the Tagum Coop counterpart, Pereyras said portion of it will be spent for rehabilitation of typhoon-damaged house particularly in Laak, Compostela Valley where about 30 households have been eyed to benefit from the donation of cooperatives.

Days before Christmas and New year, Tagum Cooperative made rounds to deliver food packs to residents of Barangay Andap in New Bataan; shared cereal snacks and juice drinks with children in the tent city established in Poblacion New Bataan; and handed over early media noche packs to Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban (Small Christian Community) or GKK members of Purok 2 in Poblacion Compostela town.

Before reaching out to typhoon victims in the nearby province of Compostela Valley, Tagum Cooperative already made its relief drive spending P100,000 for flood victims in Tagum City barangays of San Miguel and Pagsabangan, Pereyras said.

He added that Tagum Cooperative is also working on the guidelines of granting a loan payments moratorium, which could either be on interests or on principal, depending on the assessment of managers of Tagum Coop branches where requesting members belong.

"We will have to assess the extent of the damage," she said.

Meanwhile, Pereyras called for observance of honesty whether in declaring for extent of damages or in lining up to claim for food relief so others won’t be deprived of due and equal benefits and assistance.

"Dili hikawan ang uban, luoy pud kaayo ang uban, dapat angay-angay (We should not deprive others; a pity on them. There should be equal sharing)," she said.

She pointed out honesty as a virtue that Tagum Cooperative adheres to, in exercising good governance, showing its worth of the trust and confidence of other cooperatives.

"Other coops are giving us their money (for donation). We really would like to adhere to good governance. We would make a report on the receipts and the purchases; then we will give them our report," she said. (PIA/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)