Somehow, the Covid-19 pandemic – monstrous as it is – gives us the opportunity to showcase our commitment to our reason as human beings. 

Since the community quarantine began, the Oro Integrated Cooperative (OIC) has been focusing on crafting its business continuity measures to minimize our economic loss. Despite that, we make sure that we are able to help the most affected sector survive this crisis. 

On April 17, 2020, the Board, upon recommendation of the Crisis Management Team, approved and allocated P2.5 million for rice distribution in all areas where OIC operates. Due to our branches’ proximity to some municipalities like Opol in Misamis Oriental and Sumilao in Bukidnon, our donations reached the people there even if we do not have a branch in those towns. 

We adopted a philosophy of simplicity and cooperation, and acted with certainty and minimum risk exposure in the conduct of aid distribution. First, we coursed the rice donations through our LGUs. Second, we asked “Who among the sectors have the least chance of eating 3 meals in a day during the community quarantine?” Third, we also considered the plight of our front-liners and decided to focus our donations to those in inter-agency check points. 

Pasalamat ko nga naay isa ka company nga nag tabang sa amo nga mga driver kay naa ko mapakaon sa akong pamilya. (I am thankful that there is a company that gave assistance to us drivers because it enabled me to provide food for my family.) – Jesus

Balancing health safety measures and our zeal to donate rice to people with disability (PWDs) in Cagayan de Oro City posted the biggest challenge so far. Aside from their existing condition, all 25 member-organizations of the PWD federation were geographically dispersed in the city. The distribution of donations by bulk (where the recipient organization repacks and distribute to its members) took a toll on both their federation leader and the distribution in-charge.    

We spent more than a week to secure the “Food Pass” from the Department of Agriculture Regional Office. We had to forego of the procurement protocol of OIC due to the community quarantine limitations. 

Giving donations by bulk has its pros and cons. Aside from the practicality and safety it afforded us, donating by bulk accelerates our distribution process given the volume of goods involved. However, we were not too certain, generally speaking, that all goods indeed reached the hands of all intended recipients. In fact, when we spot checked through phone calls, there were few who claimed that they did not receive anything. Hence, we needed to verify the allegations. First-hand feedback to OIC as donor was also very limited. 

Pasalamat akong pamilya sa ge tabang sa OIC kay dako kayo ni nga tabang sa akong pamilya six family members. (My family is very grateful to OIC because this already means a lot to a family of six.) – Allan 

But gratitude is always delightful! I remember that during the preparation for our first tranche, two truckloads of rice were delivered to our Carmen property along Vamenta Boulevard. We hired laborers to unload the sacks of rice. When the laborers were about to leave after receiving their dues, we gave them a share of the rice donations. They were very elated! Their group leader borrowed a phone, called up the rice distribution officer-in-charge, and expressed their thanks and affirmation for the volume and quality of rice they received. 

Our cooperative adheres to the principle, “Concern for the Community,” which we embody in our mission to help improve the quality of life of our members and their communities. 

But giving relief goods is always easier said than done – that is a valuable lesson to us. It is complex no matter how simplified we want it to be. There is urgency to do it, yet it entails thorough planning and coordination. In fact, the Filipino maxim Aanhin pa ang damo kapag patay na ang kabayo (What use is the grass when the horse is already dead) is relevant in relief good operations. The entire operation also demands utmost honesty and dedication of leaders of the recipient organizations and full cooperation of its members.

OIC is one of the top 10 cooperatives among 25,000 registered cooperatives in the Philippines and considered a “billionaire cooperative” given its asset size. It has 18 branches located in Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan, Bukidnon, Bohol, and Misamis Oriental. It now has 177,000 members (as of Dec 2019). 

By: Floriano R. Hilot, Chief Executive Officer, Oro Integrated Cooperative (OIC)