Strengthening microfinance systems: A Tale of Cooperative Collaboration

From Quezon province to Quezon City, two cooperatives with shared social objectives are learning together to look for ways they can improve their services to their marginalized members. 

On June 20-21, the management and staff of Yakap at Halik Multipurpose Cooperative Quezon 2 visited the Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative (KCOOP) office in Quezon City for a “lakbay-aral” organized by the Peace and Equity Foundation. This visit aimed to gain insights into the effective microfinance systems developed by the Metro Manila-based cooperative. 

The delegation from Yakap at Halik included the chairman of the Board of Trustees, the general manager, and staff from their finance, operation, and satellite offices. They toured the “sentros” in the city where women entrepreneurs and KCOOP officers gather for their microfinance activities and other services.

This exposure is an important exercise for Yakap at Halik, as they have faced persistent challenges in their microfinance operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The visit helped us a lot. We’ve been given new ideas and strategies to manage our microfinance operation. We’re looking to address our gaps with things we learned from KCOOP,” Yakap at Halik Assistant Manager Benjie Domingo said. 

Currently, Yakap at Halik’s microfinance operations spans six municipalities and one city in Quezon, servicing approximately 5,200 members. 

The KCOOP’s centers are vital in their operation, serving as communication and coordination hubs and providing services to their 100,000-strong membership. These centers also empower women leaders to have a voice in their communities.

“The system we have created in our centers helped our members get by during the pandemic,” KCOOP General Manager Dexter Flores said. 

During the discussions, both cooperatives explored potential partnerships, such as training on delinquent management and future market linkages for Yakap at Halik’s products through KCOOP’s K-Sari project.  

“This learning visit has allowed both cooperatives to share approaches and strategies in improving our services to our members,” Flores added. 

By sharing knowledge and strategies, Yakap at Halik and KCOOP are strengthening their microfinance systems, ultimately empowering their communities and enhancing the lives of their members.

 

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