STRONG CAMARADERIE TIES ONE ANOTHER INTO DECADES OF TOGETHERNESS

Bonded in the vast farmlands of Sto. Domingo in Nueva Ecija, members of Pulong Buli Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative Inc. or PBPMPCI had withstood the test of time. For more than two decades, they remained intact with their unwavering passion to keep their dairy business going.

PBPMPCI was established in the 1990s. Back then, it only had 27 members who had chosen Primo Natividad, popularly known as “Ka Primo”, to be their chairman. This made Ka Primo the longest serving chairman among the PCCassisted co-ops in the Philippines. Whether then or now, Ka Primo’s burning aim is to improve the lives of the members of the co-op as well as that of his own. Their first operation was on crop production.

In 1999, PCC entrusted the cooperative with 50 female Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes and two dairy bulls. In due time, their animals multiplied to 128. From 21 lactating buffaloes, they collected an average of 71 liters of milk daily for a number of months.

They sell their milk to NEFEDCCO. In 2018, as per its record, the cooperative was able to collect from its members 26,103.4 liters of milk which was sold at Php1,478,168.90.

At present, the co-op has more than 70 active members. It has been identified as one of the cooperatives with the most number of dairy buffaloes in Nueva Ecija.

Due to the unrivaled efforts exemplified by Ka Primo, he was bestowed a “leadership award” by PCC.

“If you are dishonest, you can’t expect your members to be honest with you. Also, a member who is known to harbor ill motives to the cooperative is immediately reprimanded. There’s no place for a traitor here,” said Ka Primo who is known to members as a very strict leader.

The cooperative received various pieces of equipment and facilities from different government agencies.

“We were offered many projects by the DA but I decidedly chose to accept only those that we are able to manage. We don’t engage with endeavors that would require beyond our capacity,” Ka Primo said in a firm tone.

Ka Primo also disclosed that he experienced the “jealousy” of his family over his dedication to the cooperative. But he is certain that his family now appreciates why he had to be a hands-on leader.

He wanted to make sure that the co-op delivers what it promises. One of the important programs of the co-op is the educational assistance for the children of members. In fact, he is one of the beneficiaries having financed his two children to college and both are now graduates.

At present, PBPMPCI also lends provident and emergency loans to members. The cooperative was also chosen as a credit conduit of the ACPC’s PLEA, which allows dairy farmers to borrow up to Php50,000 with a low annual interest of 6%.

“PCC assists dairy cooperatives in processing their application as credit conduits. With a low interest rate, it is possible for a dairy farmer to pay PLEA over a period of one to two years,” explained Joshua Villanueva, financial analyst of PCC’s Business Development and Commercialization Unit.

Due to integrity and dedication in management, coupled with the upright attitude of its members, PBPMPCI is destined to score more successes in its future undertakings.