COOPERATIVES’ RELIEF OPERATIONS FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN ZAMBALES

Philippine Cooperative Center

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Last April 22, 2020, the Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC) organized a relief operation for the indigenous people of Zambales in response to the call of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) through Chairperson Orlando Ravanera and ASEC Virgilio “Boy” Lazaga to help IPs in Zambales. Originally, the IP Communities wrote Senator Bong Go regarding the request for food assistance. The relief operation was organized to provide  assistance to different barangays which were clustered by tribe. The relief goods consisted of rice and various vegetables such as carrots, cabbages, and potatoes among others. The relief operation also helped the farmers of La Trinidad, Benguet sell their produce and earn during the quarantine, while at the same time providing food to the indigenous people of Zambales. A total of 1,779 families from different barangays were given relief goods.

food relief operations are among the initiatives of PCC in the wake of the present crisis. Under this initiative, PCC seeks to help the farmer groups/farmer coops sell their produce, particularly those that they are overstocked in. The intended markets are the needy coop communities in NCR. PCC appeals to prospective donor-coops and asks needy coop communities to come forward so that some assistance can be provided them in the form of vegetables and rice. Delivery is facilitated for now by PCC. This initiative is aligned with – and in support of – the program of the Department of Agriculture to help the farmers in the North.

(distribution of relief packs to the IP Communities of Zambales)

The first beneficiaries of Relief operations are from the town of San Felipe. The Relief goods were received and repacked by the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in coordination with the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Indigenous Peoples Sectoral Representative,

Judith Maranes. The goods were distributed to ten (10) barangays namely: Cabaruan, Sagpat, Yangil, Banawen, Bantay Carmen, Tektek, Anangka, Lalec, Balincaguing, and Cabuya.

The second group of beneficiaries was headed by Mr. Salvador Dimain (Ka Badong) the chieftain of Maporac Ayta Organization.  They also received and repacked the goods for Sitio Maporac and Barangay New San Juan, Cabangan, Zambales.

The last group of beneficiaries is from Pinatubo Ayta Agro-Industrial Multi-purpose cooperative headed by Mr. Chito Balintay. They distributed the relief items to the following barangays:  Villar, Moraza, Belbel, and Bagong Silang, Castillejos.

Special thanks to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Personnel: Dr. Emma Dionisio, Juanillo Bulatao, Marilyn Domacena, Ira Encanares, Gloria Bulatao, Judith Baluyot, Sonia Yu, Kevin Constantine Fonseca, Edlyn Jaring, Daisy Capellan, Fernando Magtanong, Faith Magtanong, Gina D. Tabradillo.

Maporac Ayta Organization (MAO):  Marcelino de Dios, Fernando Dela Cruz, Fredie Dolandolan, Orlino Balario, Erna Gallardo, Nora Garcia, Sec. Janeth de Guzman, Treas. Teresa Dela Cruz, Florfida Dalit, Mary Jean

Pinatubo Ayta Agro-Industrial MPC: Chito Balintay, Raul Dele Cruz, Prenses Balangon, Jean Buted, Juan Cosme, Reynaldo Cabalic, Monico Magtanong, Caridad Cosme, Jayson Dela Cruz, Woody Magtanong, Otong Dela Cruz, Joseph Buted, Tessie Reyes, Corazon Dolandolan, Makkie Balintay, James Balintay, Charlie Villanueva, Rodel Pelayo and Alberto Amado.

They were the volunteers who helped in repacking and distributing the relief goods to the different tribes/ Indigenous peoples of 18 barangays in Zambales. The deliveries also included food packs intended for coop members in NCR.

The relief operation was made possible through the donations from the following cooperatives, 1 Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines (1CISP), CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative (CLIMBS), Novaliches Development Cooperative (NOVADECI), San Dionisio Credit Cooperative (SDCC), Barangka Credit Cooperative (BCC), Metro South Cooperative Bank (MSCB), MASS-SPECC Development Cooperative (MASS-SPECC) and Bohol Diocesan Multipurpose Cooperative (BDMPC),  in partnership with the Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC), National Cooperative Marketing Foundation (NCMF) and KOOP KING Multipurpose Cooperative.

This is an on-going initiative. Thus, PCC appeals to prospective donor-coops, on one hand; while on the other hand, urging coops with identified needy communities to relay their needs.  For this is where we could see the essence of Cooperation Among Cooperatives as well as Concern for Community.

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