Kidapawan co-ops camp after quakes
KIDAPAWAN CITY — Powerful earthquakes hit Central and Southern Mindanao last year and three member co-operatives of the NATCCO Network saw their offices here damaged. The co-ops are Sta. Catalina Credit Cooperative, Mediatrix Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and BCS Credit Cooperative in Bansalan Municipality 28 kilometers away.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology & Seismology reported the quakes struck Mindanao on July 9, October 16, 29 & 31, and December 15, 2019 and had intensities ranging from 5.9 to 6.9
The series of strong Philippine quakes in 2019 began on 22 April 2019, Monday, an earthquake of Magnitude 6.1 shook the provinces of Zambales, Pampanga and vicinity. The epicenter was located 18 kilometers east of Castillejos, Zambales, on a mountainous area, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Small-magnitude earthquakes followed afterwards, and by 8 AM of 23 April, 421 aftershocks had been recorded by the PHIVOLCS-DOST seismic monitoring network.
While there was no serious damage to people and property, it was a harbinger of what was to come upon Mindanao.
Six months later, a swarm of earthquakes struck the province of Cotabato on the island of Mindanao on October 16, 29 and 31. Three of these earthquakes were above 6.0 on the Richter scale. More than 40 people were reported dead or missing and nearly 800 were injured.
At 2:11 PM on December 15, 2019, the province of Davao del Sur on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was struck by an earthquake measuring Intensity 6.8. It had a maximum perceived intensity of VII (Very strong) on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. At least 13 people were killed and another 210 injured.
The offices of the three co-ops sustained cracks in their structures and were deemed unsafe for occupants. The co-ops built temporary shelter to continue operations and ensure the safety of employees and transacting members. In the case of BCS, they put up a makeshift tent. Mediatrix is renting a nearby house. Sta. Catalina has constructed an airconditioned structure of plywood. (see photos).
The series of strong Philippine quakes in 2019 began on 22 April 2019, Monday, an earthquake of Magnitude 6.1 shook the provinces of Zambales, Pampanga and vicinity. The epicenter was located 18 kilometers east of Castillejos, Zambales, on a mountainous area, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Small-magnitude earthquakes followed afterwards, and by 8 AM of 23 April, 421 aftershocks had been recorded by the PHIVOLCS-DOST seismic monitoring network.
While there was no serious damage to people and property, it was a harbinger of what was to come upon Mindanao.
Six months later, earthquakes struck Cotabato on October 16, 29 and 31. Three of these earthquakes were above 6.0 on the Richter scale. Killing 40 people and nearly 800 were injured.
Sta. Catalina Credit Cooperative manages assets of P1.65 Billion owned by 26,886 members served by 22 branches all over Cotabato and surrounding provinces.
Mediatrix MPC, Kidapawan City stewards Assets worth P665 Million as of 2018 belonging to 16,557 members.
BCS Credit Cooperative has Assets of P1.03 Billion belonging to 32,989 members served in 15 branches.
NATCCO CEO Sylvia Paraguya together with a team from the NATCCO Member Relations Group visited the co-ops in February 2020.
In the spirit of Cooperation among Cooperatives, 27 co-ops donated P0.847 Million.
The Korean Credit Union Social Contribution Foundation also donated P440,000 to the Mindanao Quake Fund.
Mediatrix MPC began in in 1989 when Fr. Alfredo Epiz, OMI called for a meeting with the church workers of the Our Lady of Mediatrix of All Graces Cathedral and later held a sectoral consultation, attended by farmers, market vendors, tricycle drivers and employees.
Loan sharks charged interest of 10% at the time.
The consultation gave birth to the Mediatrix Savings & Credit Cooperative with 57 pioneering members.
MMPC is operating with six Branch Offices and nine business centers spread though out North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani Province, Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon.
Aside from Savings and Credit, MMPC offers other services to its members such as (1) In-house Tinabangay and Kalusugan Special Savings Deposit, (2) Hostel, (3) ATM Machine, (4) Agri-Supply, (5) Tailoring, (6) Calamity and Death Assistance, (7) Community Development Program, and others.
Sta. Catalina MPC started in 1984, venturing into agri-marketing and trading, providing loans to farmers who were abused by loan sharks.
By 1985, the co-op started its rice mill, warehouse, solar dryer and trucking services for members.
BCS Credit Cooperative is a savings and credit coop established in 2002. BCS operates in 17 offices in Regions XI and XII.