History of DISADECO

          The Diffun Saranay Development Cooperative (DISADECO) was born on July 2, 1988 when 51 poor rice farmers from the four barangays of Ma. Clara, San Isidro, Isidro Paredes and Bannawag met under the shade of a mango tree at the Gabrillo Residence at Ma. Clara, Diffun, Quirino to discuss ways and means to improve their lot. Resultantly, the group decided to organize a cooperative calling it the Diffun Credit Cooperative Inc. (DCCI). Subsequently, trainors from Santiago Credit and Development Cooperative (SACDECO) with the assistance of MAO Romulo Mandac of the Department of Agriculture conducted a pre-membership seminar. Likewise, the first set of officers was elected as follows:

                                               

                                Ramon B. Piano            -           Chairman

                                Corazon T. Ballesteros  -           Vice- Chairman

                                Benjamin B. Gabrillo    -           Treasurer

                                Elizabeth G. Somera     -           Director

                                Rogelio P. Dela Cruz   -           Director

                                Pablo T. Sado               -           Director

                                Marcelo O. Arcebal     -           Director

         

          It started its operations with FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED (P5, 200.00) paid-up share capital.

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          A non-government organization, the World Vision International, whose mission is community development invested P40, 000.00 to the cooperative and also helped out in registering it with the BACOD.

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          Only a few months after its registration with BACOD, key officers (chairman, vice-chairman and manager) resigned due to transfer of employment. The budding cooperative suffered its first test. The remaining officers were unfazed, however, a reorganization immediately took place. Rogelio Dela Cruz was elected chairman, Elizabeth G. Somera as Vice-chairman, Benjamin Gabrillo treasurer, Fausta Garcia Secretary and Pablo Sado and Evaristo Acebo as members of the BOD. The officers sweated a lot in educating would be members for people are sick of the “Kita-Pati” syndrome. Sacrifices paid off for after six years of operations. Membership grew dramatically convincing the general membership to amend its constitution and by-laws. In March 21, 1994, the area of operation was amended from municipal-wide to province-wide and name was amended as Diffun Credit and Development Cooperative (DICREDECO).

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          Government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) were enticed by the growth of the cooperative. Both offered financial assistance. Borrowed capital was managed properly and indebtedness were repaid in due time. Consequently, the cooperative was a consistent recipient of Gawad-Pitak Award from the Land Bank of the Philippines. Awards received by the cooperative since then were as follows:

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1. 1989 – 1st runner-up Most outstanding Small Farmer’s Organization

2. 1993-1995 – Most Outstanding Cooperative Gawad Pitak Provincial Level sponsored by the Land Bank of the Philippines

3. 1995 – Most Outstanding NGO- Gawad Tulong Sa Tao Award sponsored by the Department of Trade & Industry Region 02

4. 1996 – Most Outstanding Coop sponsored by the Cooperative Development Authority – R2

5. 1995-1996 – Most Outstanding Small Farmer’s/Fisher folks Organization Regional Winner Gawad Saka sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, 2

6.  2001 – Best in Financial Performance Agri-Based Coop Category sponsored by the Land Bank of the Philippines

7. 2001 – Best Cooperative Category Class A sponsored by the Land Bank of the Philippines

8. 2002 – Pangalawang Pinakatanging Kooperatiba by the Land Bank of the Philippines

9. 2003 – Best Cooperative in Financial Performance Agri-Based Category sponsored by the Land Bank of the Philippines

10. 2004 – Pinakatanging Kooperatiba Gawad Pitak sponsored by the Land Bank of the Philippines

11. 2004 – Gawad Pitak 2004 Kooperatiba Pinakamahusay sa Gawaing Pananalapi(Agri-based) sponsored by the Land Bank of the Philippines

12. 2005 – Gawad Pitak Hall of Fame 2005 Agri- Category  sponsored by the Land Bank of the Philippines

13. 2008 – Gawad Saka  Provincial and Regional Winner sponsored by the Department of Agriculture

14. 2010 – Provincial, Regional and National Gawad Saka Awardee sponsored by the Department of Agriculture

15. 2010 – Outstanding Community United In Action Awardee sponsored by the Provincial Local Government Unit of Quirino.

16. 2011 – GUILLERMO AWARD Most Outstanding Cooperative in the Municipality of Diffun

17. 2013 – COMMUNITY UNITED IN ACTION award given by PLGU Quirino

18. 2013 – 1st PLACER – MOST OUTSTANDING COOPERATIVE Medium Category – CDA GAWAD PARANGAL – National Winner

19. 2014 - NATIONAL FINALIST - MOST OUTSTANDING COOPERATIVE Large Category - CDA Gawad Parangal

20. 2015 - NATIONAL FINALIST - MOST OUTSTANDING COOPERATIVE - Large Category - CDA 2015 Gawad Parangal

21. 2015 - Most Outstanding Community Enterprise in the Philippines for the 2015 VILLAR SIPAG AWARDS for poverty reduction

 

          In 2006, officers of the cooperative opted not to rely on external borrowing but operate utilizing internal resources only. The total assets of the cooperative then was P52, 216,237.07 from the meager P5, 200.00 at the start of operations.

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          On January 19, 2007, an amendment by substitution was registered by the cooperative with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) changing the name from DICREDECO to Diffun Saranay Development Cooperative (DISADECO) and amending all other provisions in the Article of Cooperation and By-Laws in compliance with the new requirements of the CDA.

At the end of 2007, after a year of operation using only internal resources, a tremendous ten (10) million leap in total assets was realized through the able leadership of Marciana D. Foryasen as chairman, Ma. Retchelle D. Jose as manager and Ernesto V. Artates as treasurer.

 

          It was also at the last quarter of 2007 where construction of the 2 storey DISADECO Farmers Center started and was inaugurated March 8, 2008 utilizing internal resources. The basement and ground floor of the DISADECO Farmers Center serves as the center for the agri-business sector of the cooperative while the second floor houses the DISADECO Super mart.

Besides increasing the aesthetic and commercial value of the DISADECO compound, the space between the DISADECO administration building and the DFC was concreted April, 2008. To ease entry and exit of farm inputs and agricultural produce at the DFC, Espiritista Street was concreted through the assistance of the Office of Congressman Cua.

 

          Growth and development inspired DISADECO management to push through with the implementation of the cooperative’s five year development plan. In January 30, 2009, ground breaking of the DISADECO Grains Processing Center (DGPC) was celebrated along with the inauguration of Espiritista Street. Immediately after the ground breaking, electrification of the project site commenced where DISADECO augmented the P200, 000.00 financial support from the COOP NATCCO Party just to bring in electric current at the project site. DGPC includes a village type corn drying facility, bio-N mixing plant, a warehouse and drying pavement. It has long plan of having a palay re-circulating drying facility, multi-pass rice mill, feed mill and organic fertilizer production facility. The DGPC was inaugurated December 12, 2009 along with the inauguration of the 4-wheel drive tractor availed by DISADECO through the GMA Corn Program.

 

          At the closing of books, December 31, 2010 DISADECO’s total assets stand at P89, 169,853.21 with all the fixed assets owned by 2,318 members.

 

          With the cooperative’s sincerity of bringing services nearer to its members, branching as laid in the development plan was implemented. The first branch was opened October 8, 2012 at Santiago City. In the same year, the second branch was opened at San Mateo, Isabela December 10, 2012. Continuous education of what is a cooperative emphasizing that it is the only way out of poverty contributed to members realization of the need to continuously save and patronize the services of the coop. As a result, total asset of the cooperative at the end of the year is 134,010,738.15 with the award as Gawad Parangal National Nominee by the Cooperative Development Authority. Gawad Parangal is a prestigious award better than any other award as the basis for evaluation is Cooperative Organization and Development, Financial Management and Business Operations and Social Relevance. In short, focus is safety of investment, liquidity, optimum fund utilization and adequate return of investment. This made DISADECO amend its vision and mission as:

Sirmata: Pagwaddan a cooperatiba iti pagilian (Vision : A leading cooperative in the country )

Misyon: Pinangitan ok ti nainkalentigan ken naimpuswan nga panagserbi. ( Mission: Promotes social justice )

 

          For 2013, DISADECO further improved its services and brought it further nearer to its members. Third branch was opened at Cauyan City, March 18, 2013, the fourth at Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, June 10, 2013 and the fifth at Aurora, Isabela, September 18, 2013. From the 134,010,738.15 total asset of 2012, DISADECO is now 290,260,874.94 as of December 31, 2015. Evolution of DISADECO is accompanied by a prestigious award as 2013 Gawad Parangal Most Outstanding Primary Cooperative Medium Scale Category. Sincerity of officers and management is recognized by the National Nomination Committee of the Gawad Parangal bestowing the chairperson of DISADECO the third most outstanding cooperative leader of the country. The Gawad Parangal with its criteria qualified DISADECO as government’s partner for the implementation of government projects for bettering the lives of the poor and marginalized.

On August 10, 2016, DISADECO was awarded as the Gawad Pitak- Pinakatatanging Kooperatiba, Agri-based Category sponsored by the Land Bank of the Philippines.

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          Despite its humble beginnings, DISADECO now stands with pride along with its committed officers, staff and members whose dream for a better life joined the cooperative movement.