Understandably, life is not always easy. The group also encountered problems in so many ways especially in management just like any other organization went through. At times, BPWD experience non-operation for almost six (6) months. That’s the time when the group thinks of alternatives on how to sustain its operation.
After the first DepEd contract, a Bicol-wide skills training was conducted in preparation for big DepEd contracts in the future. The PWD associations in Sorsogon and Albay sent 10 members each for the training. All of them joined the cooperative after the training.
Our main line of business is the production of school chairs. However, the group does not solely depend on DepEd contracts. We also get small orders from walk-in customers and make billboards and repair chairs as well. However, since only a few earn from these efforts, the group always look forward to big contracts. Our experience in our cooperative is highly empowering especially since we manage this by ourselves. In year 2004, the 2nd contract from the Procurement Service- Department of Budget and Management through the National Federation of Cooperative of Person With Disability (NFCPWD) has been awarded.
At present BPWDMPC had 49 members. Most of the member including women was involved in chair making. With the latest contract the group were able to pay the entire obligation and able to reserve some amount for Capital build up.
Presently, the group is planning in venturing into dressmaking and tailoring and would even like to set up an Internet café. Those who are interested in learning how to use the computer are given the opportunity to do so. The local government in Ligao, Albay has committed to help the in this project. Ten of our members acquired their house through Habitat International. Our married members live with their families while those who are single mostly live with parents or in our workshop.
We are very happy with what we have so far achieved as a cooperative. For the moment, our most cherished dream is to expand our membership among PWDs in the other provinces of the Bicol region. To begin with, we would like to enlist at least 10 members from each province. At the moment, we already have a group in the province of Sorsogon. The group has a workshop and a fairly large building, which is about the size of three regular public school classrooms put together. We hope that with the formation of groups in the five provinces, the DepED orders will become province-based.
BPWDMPC dreams to accomplish many things like setting up a fund, which can be used for lending for members for productive and providential purposes. The fund could serve as members’ seed capital when they initiate their own livelihood projects. Hopefully, before long, our cooperative will become region-wide.
- Chairman : Mr. Jodel Brutas
- Manager : Mr. David Nebres II