Lamac mystique

Iwas in Lamac, Pinamungajan last week for the inauguration of the latest addition to a string of attractions and amenities in Hidden Valley Resort, a facility owned by the Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative. My invitation to the launch of the wave pool came through the courtesy of Ellen Limocon and Delfin Tuquib, general manager and chairman of the board respectively of Lamac MPC.

Barangay Lamac is nestled in the rugged mountains of Pinamungajan in southwestern Cebu and it is here where the agricultural coop runs the business for more than 54,000 members who jointly own assets pegged at over P900 million.  Nowadays, coop officials are practically all over Cebu and in some parts of Bohol and Leyte for the pre-assembly meetings of the coop’s 22 branches. The activity enables the branches to select their representatives to the annual general assembly of the mother organization based in Lamac, Pinamungajan in the very resort facility that they own.

Lamac had gained a certain mystique in the 70s when the village was governed by a certain Narcisa de Gracia. Back then, no one in Lamac could step out of the village without getting permission from their leader, a deeply religious woman who held sway over the villagers’ temporal and spiritual concerns.

It was in the early 70s that Ellen freshly graduated from a midwifery course and decided to accept the post of a barangay health worker in Lamac. Because it was virtually cut off from the outside world, the situation enabled Ellen to immerse in the community and that’s how she caught the attention of de Gracia, who immediately took a liking to the simple lass from the neighboring town.  That’s how she gained the confidence of the governor of Lamac and eventually, the trust of the community of farmers.

Trust was key to Ellen’s helping organize Samahang Nayon, a pre-coop organization that former President Ferdinand Marcos decreed for poor farmers to achieve social and economic development during the early days of Martial Law. The 20 or so farmers put up P50 each to set up a consumer store that barangay professionals like Ellen helped to sustain and grow.

In the upcoming annual general assembly to be held 3 months from now, Lamac MPC members will rejoice not only with the financial gains of their business that started with a measly P1,000 and soon to breach the P1 billion mark but also share the pride in the way their enterprise has become a showcase for best practices, transparency and good governance.

Innovation is likewise evident in the coop’s organic or agricultural division through the development of strategies to help farmers in growing cash crops like cacao and in guiding the sector to link up with the supply chain.

The coop’s high profile advocacy campaigns in the field of gender equality (Lamac MPC is dominated by women who account for more than 43,000 of the total members) and youth programs are also noteworthy. The strides of the coop in gender equality have been amply recognized in Ellen’s chairmanship of the GE committee in the Coop Natcco federation board of directors.  This was crucial to her gaining a seat, in behalf of the Philippine federation, in the GE committee of the International Cooperative Alliance Asia Pacific region.

If the Lamac mystique still lingers, it is because the once isolated and poor community has come out of its downtrodden shell to overcome poverty, achieve economic independence in a sustainable way and gain the respect of many. Lamac MPC is a huge demonstration of a successful coop and is a shining example for other coops and communities to follow.

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By the way, the wave pool inauguration was also graced by Pinamungajan Mayor Glenn Baricuatro and Cooperative Development Authority Administrator Mercedes “Ched” Castillo who came in the company of CDA Region 7 Director Philip Deri and deputy Ms. Mumar. I went to Lamac in the company of Renia Salinas, lady boss of VICTO National Federation and fellow cooperator Shirley Retuya.

Built at a cost of P25 million, the wave pool simulates beach waves and is the first of its kind in Cebu. I will not be surprised if local and foreign tourists would beat their paths to Lamac but I think the biggest attraction is still the agricultural cooperative.

Another good news for Lamac MPC is that the road improvement project from barangay Bunga in Toledo which connects to Lamac will start next month. The road to the coop headquarters is a lot better than what it was 30 years ago when villagers walk on stony trails which they call gahas-gahas (foot path), but the ride from the main highway to Lamac remains bumpy.

Fortunately, Natcco Party List Congressman Cresente Paez pushed for the inclusion of the 2.5-kilometer Lamac road project worth P70 million in the budget of the Department of Tourism. In a talk with this corner last week, Cong. Paez said the Public Works and Highways Department gave assurance that the Lamac road project will be completed  next year, possibly within the first 6 months.

Here’s wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!