All Systems Go For I-Café Cooperative

Twenty-six (26) committed Internet café owners attended the Pre-Membership Education Seminar (PMES) conducted by Ms. Josefina Calanno, CDS-II of the Cooperative Development Authority yesterday, May 21, 2010 at the proposed office of Pilipinas I-Café Marketing Cooperative (PICMC) in 26 Doña Hemady St., New Manila, Quezon City. The orientation seminar that tackled everything about the organization and operation of a cooperative was followed by the signing of the Articles of Cooperation and By-Laws by the 26 cooperators who likewise paid their initial share capital in the cooperative.

The election of seven (7) members of the Board of Directors (BOD) followed the signing of the documents by the cooperators and afterwards, the BOD conduct their own election of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The first members of the PICMC Board of Directors who will serve their term for two (2) years are the following:

1. Mr. Gener Morada - Chairman
2. Mr. Bienvenu Balajadia - Vice-Chairman
3. Mr. Joseph Nablo - Secretary
4. Ms. Thelma Salamat - Treasurer
5. Ms. Rosette Tuboro - Board Member
6. Mr. Joey Vibar - Board Member
7. Mr. Santi Cabangon - Board Member

The Articles of Cooperation and By-Laws of the Pilipinas I-Café Marketing Cooperative will be submitted to Cooperative Development Authority early next week for their approval. The other requirements before the cooperative can operate like Business Permit from local government unit (LGU) and Certificate of Registration with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will also be processed as soon as the approval by the CDA is obtained. With these developments, the members of the cooperative hope to have all the systems going by early next month.