JD J. GINES
Program Officer

Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur, where the Poor Man’s Bank started and now the Sta. Cruz Savings and Development Cooperative (SACDECO), is gearing, soaring and moving forward as it continuously booming with its widening expansion of projects, programs and services. Aside from the various services extended to its members and the community as a whole, some other concerns were also given attention such as the Social Services which include Health and Wellness, Sanitation and Water System Projects, Greening Program guided by the policy on Cooperative Social Responsibility (CSR) which was promulgated last year with the vision to strengthen and deepen the community development and services.

Typically known to some of us, cooperative has been known and focused to its deposit and loan operations. But the arising needs of the community which is the grass root of its trending growth and development made the cooperative aware of what is really transpiring in the actual existence of the people which give courage and inspiration to respond to their plea; the secret lying beyond its success which is very astonishing to others.

During the past years, numerous assistance and activities were extended. The “CSR” is the latest program designed to perceive the various needs of the community whether they are members of the cooperative or not as long as it is for the common welfare and most especially if they are in need intensely. The program is now being implemented not only in the branches of SACDECO-Ilocos Sur but also in the branches of La Union, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija. People are now aware about these programs and activities done in the aforementioned places.

As designated personnel of the cooperative to lead the programs on Social Services, I consider Health and Wellness program as one of the important needs. In this concern, Medical Missions were made during the past years up to the present. With the collaboration of SACDECO and RHU in Sta. Cruz, 152 women were served and undergone PAP SMEAR. Aside from these, SANITATION PROJECT was also implemented. We distributed toilet bowls and drums to families without Comfort Rooms in barangay Pinipin, Pilar, Sevilla, Villa Hermosa and Dili, this town. The same program was also implemented in the SACDECO branches of Santa and Bangar with the assistance of the Local Government Unit (LGU) ;

With regards to Water System Project, barangay Daligan was benefitted with water system connecting the spring from mountain going down to the barangay residences up to the neighboring barangays. Relative to this, barangay Casilagan was also given a set of jet-matic for public use. One organization from barangay Calaoa-an was also given field watering materials.

Last 27^th General Assembly, the Prime Movers Association members composed of fishermen from barangay Capariaan, Villa Garcia and Casilagan received One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP100,000.00) for the purchase of motorized boat and for the repairs of fishing paraphernalia. The assistance was given to them to enhance their daily works and financial needs.

Social Services of SACDECO are not only limited to the barangay but also to the schools supporting the YTM programs. The following schools are the beneficiaries:

1. 1.Pinipin Elementary School- Monoblock Chairs & painting Materials
2. 2.Arangin-Dinaratan Elementary School- Materials for classroom repairs
3. 3.P.R. PMA- 1 unit Computer Set
4. 4.Babayoan Elementary School- Paint & materials for water system
5. 5.Nagtenga Elementary School- Jet matic
6. 6.Sagat Elementary School- Repair of water system
7. 7.Dili Elementary School- Painting materials for classrooms
8. 8.Amazing grace- 1 unit Laptop
9. 9.Castro Elementary School (Bangar)- 2 units ceiling fans
10. 10.San Francisco Elementary School (Sudipen L.U) – 2 units ceiling fan
11. 11.Banayoyo Central School- 2 white boards

With these various goods and services extended, the Board of Directors designed a new program in support to the YTM which is the “FIRST STEP”, where school bags and school supplies were distributed to Grade One Pupils in all schools supporting the YTM program.

The cooperative also supports the “ECOLOGY/GREENING PROGRAM” of the government. Some of the activities are the planting of Mangroves in Santiago, Ilocos Sur, coconut in the coastal barangay of Sevilla, Pilar and Las-ud, acacia and milena in barangay Babayoan.

These projects and programs of the cooperative are the answers of the pressing present concerns of the community as manifested with their hopeful smiles and happiness as they received and explore these assistance benefits that give an inspiration and courage to the officers and employees of the cooperative as we work for the common welfare for the community as a whole.

Rest assured that the cooperative will always be ready to extend and share its blessings and benefits for our common good.