The cooperative movement in the Philippines has a long and storied history dating back to the early 1900s. The cooperative model was first introduced to the country by the American colonial government, which recognized the potential of cooperatives as a way to promote economic and social progress.
Cooperative success can be attributed to its members, who are often referred to as the “lifeblood of the organization”. These members come from diverse backgrounds such as farmers, fishermen, small business owners, and employees. But they all shared a common goal, which was to collaborate towards bettering their socioeconomic status and the community as a whole.
Currently, the Philippine cooperative movement is circulating nationwide, operating in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, consumer goods, financial services, and power supply. Like other endeavors, cooperatives also face challenging and crucial times.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the government reduced its support for cooperatives, resulting in struggling to compete in an increasingly globalized and competitive market. However, the cooperative movement has remained resilient and adaptive to the changing economic landscape through the employment of new business models and strategies.
In history, the humble beginning of Tagum Cooperative, started only with thirty-eight (38) passionate and generous members, carrying shared aspirations of contributing to the social and financial development of the cooperative members. Through good governance and management, membership increased from thirty-eight (38) to approximately two hundred thousand (200,000) members today.
Undeniably, this number of members plays a crucial role in strengthening the cooperative over adversities. The continuous trust of members in service excellence is the trust that Tagum Cooperative can fulfill their hopes, improve their socio-economic conditions, and ensure business support, which, in return, will pave the way to making Tagum Cooperative the ultimate and preferred cooperative in the nation.
Meanwhile, members’ financial investments, demonstrated by their increasing investment in capital share, and the unending patronage of products and services, contribute greatly to the financial health of the cooperative.
In addition, members’ attendance in various meetings and active participation in digital seminars and training gives assurance that the cooperative operates in a way that tailors to their needs and great interests.
To define, members, as owners, are also ambassadors in promoting Tagum Cooperative to attract new members. And sharing success stories is one way to build a positive reputation in the community, thereby, helping Tagum Cooperative penetrate highly competitive markets.
Truly, members are the lifeblood of cooperative. They provide the capital, labor, and community support necessary to keep Tagum Cooperative thriving. As members and owners, opinions are necessary for the direction of the cooperative. They are also entitled to share in the profits of the business, and benefit from a wide range of products and services.
Indeed, Tagum Cooperative provides means for individuals and society to come together and achieve common goals that would, otherwise, be difficult to attain on their own.