As strong as the tree
named Bayug, where Bayugan City got
its name, the JCA Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative
(JARBEMCO) thru test of times still stands strong.
JARBEMCO
was organized on April 5, 1999 by virtue of CARP Law initiated by CARP
beneficiaries of farm land comprising 303 hectares situated at Sta. Teresita,
Osmeña, Hamogaway and Marcelina in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.
From
its 51 original cooperators, current membership totals to 145 beneficiaries
composed of the former workers-employees of the former JCA Rubber Development
Corporation.
At
first its operation focused on production-based economic operations consisting
of rubber, durian, mangosteen and coconut plantations and now it has expanded
its plantation coverage with the opening of around 120 hectares of oil-palm, 60
hectares rubber and 6 hectares falcata.
To
cater the needs of its workers, JARBEMCO ventured into store operations and it
has expanded even more when they availed the Barangay Food Terminal (BFT), a Project
of the Department of Agriculture launched last February 9, 2011.
Noralyn
Gonzaga, BFT Incharge said that thru Barangay Food Terminal Project, DA
provided them various equipments such as 2 cold storage facilities, plastic
crates, 3 weighing scales, push cart, plastic tray, styro foam boxes,
electronic cash register and cash amount of P100,000.00 as support fund for
additional capitalization.
The
proponent also raised the said amount of P100T
as their counterpart and was used mainly for the procurement of food products
such as meat, poultry products, fish, fruits and vegetables.
JARBEMCO’s
BFT open up a sure market for local farmers as well as swine raisers around their
community where they can sell their produce.
BFT
has generated employment having 3 regular employees and 2 on call employees
during peak season of the month receiving minimum daily wage.
Gonzaga
said that BFT helps a lot for them as workers and employees of the cooperative
since they can avail its services including credit where payment will be
automatically deducted from their salary while those non-members is bounded
with duly signed customer agreement.
Aside
from enjoying lower price on goods as compared to Bayugan City market, its
customers can enjoy patronage refund and dividends every end of the year, thus
an additional benefit for the customers family and cheer up the spirit of
cooperativism.
For
almost two years in operation, JARBEMCO BFT has manifested a net income of
179,940.53. Henceforth, from these figures, financial indicators are quite
promising for JARBEMCO BFT as it faces another challenge in the years to come.
(Aurell P. Arais/DA CARAGA)
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