The Federation of Peoples’ Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC), a member of the Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc. (FSSI), has worked alongside FSSI for over two decades, creating lasting impacts on the communities they serve.
Born out of the Partnership for Development Assistance in the Philippines Inc. (PDAP)’s Central Loan Fund program, FPSDC started as a financial intermediary organization, catering to the needs of cooperatives, people’s organizations, and non-government organizations that needed alternative financing options. Registered in 1998 as a secondary cooperative, FPSDC later expanded its services to include logistics, training, and capacity building activities to meet the growing demands of its members.
FPSDC Chief Executive Officer, Christie Rowena “Tetay” Plantilla, explains the continuous and adaptive support they offer to primary members, “‘Yung isang kagandahan ng coop, walang graduation,continuous ‘yung support sa kanila depende doon sa pangangailangan. From capability, financial, technical needs, tinutugunan ng FPSDC.” [One of the great things about being in a cooperative is that there is that there’s no such thing as graduation — support is continuous and evolves based on the members’ needs. Whether it’s capacity-building, financial assistance, or technical support, FPSDC is always there to respond.]
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A key partner in this work is FSSI, whose collaboration with FPSDC under the Investing in Women (IW) project has been instrumental in supporting eight (8) women-owned and women-led social cooperatives across the country. Since 2020, FSSI has collaborated with IW, an Australian government initiative aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment and inclusive economic growth in Southeast Asia. FSSI and IW provided financial support and capacity building to women social enterprises, helping them in developing and scaling up their businesses. Under this project, FSSI and FPSDC entered into a co-investment arrangement, combining their resources to support the initiatives of women social cooperatives. Tetay shares, “Naging katuwang namin ang FSSI, mas na-enhance ‘yung aming capacity to support the members.” [FSSI became our partner, it enhanced our capacity to support our members. Through the Investing in Women (IW) project, ‘yung co-investment between FPSDC and FSSI, ay nagkaroon din ng paghahati doon sa risk involved in supporting the members. Hati doon sa pondo, hati din doon sa risk involved in supporting them. We have been a member of FSSI for two decades so doon sadalawang dekada na iyon, marami kaming natanggapna support from FSSI. Hindi lang financial support through loans, pati na rin sa technical assistance na binibigay ng FSSI sa amin. Nakapag-share din kami sa governance ng FSSI, sa mga committee, naging part din kami, and we learned a lot from that. [FSSI’s support isn’t just financial, it also provides technical assistance. We also became part of FSSI’s governance, we participated in the committees, and we learned a lot from that.]
One of the cooperatives that participated in and benefited from this partnership is Kauyagan Savers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KSMPC), based in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. Through the IW project, FSSI and FPSDC co-invested in improving KSMPC’s operations and expanding its services. Under the co-investment mechanism, FSSI matches the amount that FPSDC invests in a project, allowing for larger contributions and more impactful changes.
Particularly, this collaboration enabled KSMPC to construct a larger building, which houses both its office and the consumer store. In August 2023, KSMPC launched the structure as the Kauyagan Center for Progress, Peace, and Resilience.
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The consumer store specifically addresses the needs of its members and the wider community by providing access to essential goods without the need for long travel times. Previously, KSMPC’s consumer store was much smaller, and consumers had to travel up to two hours to reach cities like Cagayan de Oro or Malaybalay to purchase goods. This partnership has had a significant impact on the community, making it easier for KSMPC’s members to access goods and save time and money. The co-investment has greatly contributed to the cooperative’s growth and its ability to serve its members more effectively.
Maria Hidelita “Haydee” Bernal, FPSDC Chief Operations Officer, shares, “Itong co-investing project ng FPSDC and FSSI ay magandang model dahil nabigyan ng pagkatataon ang FPSDC na makapag-expand ng kaniyang negosyo, makapagbigay ng mas malaking fund to the members. Sa co-investment na ito, instead na ang FPSDC ay makapagbigay lang ng maliit na amount, pinantayan ito ng FSSI. Kung one million lang ang kaya ng FPSDC, but the member requires two million for its project, pumasok ang FSSI under the project para makapagbigay ng higher amount, para maka-respond tayo sa requirement ng ating member.
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[This co-investing project between FPSDC and FSSI is a good model because it gave FPSDC the opportunity to expand its business and provide bigger funding to its members. Through this co-investment, instead of FPSDC providing only a small amount, FSSI matched it. For example, if FPSDC could only provide one million, but the member required two million for their project, FSSI came in under the IW project to help provide a higher amount, allowing us to meet the needs of our member.]
The financial support didn’t just improve infrastructure, it also strengthened KSMPC’s role in the community. Imelda “Dah” Hernandez-Esteban, General Manager, proudly shares, “Ang consumer store, nagbibigay ng income sa KSMPC. Nagagamit ng cooperative ‘yung income para sa kaniyang mga program, para sa mga member.” [The consumer store is more than just a shop; it fuels the cooperative’s programs that benefit our members.]
The cooperative’s Suki Card program, which rewards members for loyalty, is another example of how KSMPC ensures that members benefit from its growth. The Suki Card rewards valued member-consumers with points, encouraging consumer loyalty and directly benefiting them and their households. In 2024, the highest gift certificate redeemed through the Suki Card program amounted to around Php 124,000, with other high redemption amounts including Php 75,000, Php 43,000, and Php 37,000. Through patronage refunds and incentives like these, members are empowered to reinvest in the cooperative, further supporting its sustainability.
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The new Kauyagan Center is more than just a building — it is a concrete testament to the cooperative’s growth and the credibility it has built over time. Dah shares how crucial the support from FSSI and FPSDC has been, saying, “Malaking tulong. Kung wala ang FSSI at FPSDC, wala itong building na ito.” [It’s a huge help — if it weren’t for FSSI and FPSDC, we wouldn’t have this building.] The co-investment also enabled KSMPC to access the fund at a favorable rate, making the project possible.
A notable aspect of KSMPC is its focus on empowering women. Among its total of 3,911 members, including both regular and associate members, 2,396 are women—making up 61% of the total membership.
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Women, like Dah herself, are actively engaged in the cooperative’s leadership and daily operations, helping ensure that programs and decisions reflect the needs of the broader community.
Women staff members, like Joy Eguia, Consumer Store Manager, also find personal fulfillment in their roles at the cooperative. Joy shares, “Maganda na ‘yung building, na-a-aattract ‘yung mga customer… we try our best na makapagbigay ng saktong serbisyo.” [The building is beautiful now — it attracts customers… we try our best to provide the right service.] For Joy, working close to home not only allows her to contribute to her household’s income, but also fills her with pride in her role as a career woman.
Dah explains that the vision doesn’t stop here, “Ang plan is to complete the second floor within the cooperative’s five-year strategic plan, kasama doon na dapat makumpleto na ang building. Ang plan ng tindahan namin, sa front ng grocery store, lalagyan ng kiosk para may coffee shop.”
[The plan is to complete the second floor within the five-year strategic plan, including finishing the building. We also plan to set up a kiosk in front of the grocery store for a coffee shop.]
Similarly, women play a key role in the cooperative’s coffee enterprise and the production of its brand, Kape Kauyagan. Just two kilometers from the Kauyagan Center, a sorting facility employs women from the community in the meticulous work of coffee sorting — a task that demands skill, consistency, and close attention to quality. Their dedication helped KSMPC earn a top spot in a regional coffee cupping competition. Coffee cupping is a standardized method for tasting and evaluating the quality and flavor profile of coffee.
Among the 134 coffee farmers supported by KSMPC, Mary Jane Daquina, an Indigenous People member from Dumalaging, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, stands out with a story that captures the transformative power of community-led development.
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She has been with KSMPC since 2010, grateful to be part of a cooperative that has brought services closer to remote farmers like her. “Since pag mata namo sa kalibutan, naa najud na among kape. Diha me nabuhi sa kape. Every October to March, diha rame maka gunit ug kape, ug maka gunit ug kwarta, kung mahalinan me ug kape.” [Since birth, coffee has always been part of our life. It’s how we survive. Every October to March, we harvest coffee, get to hold coffee in our hands, and when we get to earn.]
Before becoming a member of KSMPC, Mary Jane faced significant challenges. She had to walk 26 kilometers from her farm just to sell coffee or buy basic goods in town, with little to no income and no culture of saving. “Walay uso sa amoa ang savings… Ayha pa dayon ko nag-savings diri sa Kauyagan.” [Savings was unheard of for us. It was only through Kauyagan that I started saving.]
Kauyagan Savers MPC’s focus on financial literacy has had a transformative impact on its members. The cooperative has introduced practical tools and knowledge that have empowered members to manage their finances better. Through the cooperative, Mary Jane and fellow coffee farmers in the community now have access to ATMs, a direct benefit of their membership. This shift not only offers them easier access to their funds but also fosters a culture of financial responsibility and growth that didn’t exist before.
Due to KSMPC’s support with coffee processing and access to a steady market, her life began to change. From just Php 110 per kilogram in the 1990s to Php 280 in 2024, coffee now brings tangible benefits.
“Karon ang mga IP, maka-palit na ug kabayo, baka, carabao, naka-renovate na sila sa ilang balay tungod sa kape.” [Now, indigenous people can afford to buy horses, cows, carabaos… they’ve been able to renovate their homes because of coffee.]
For Mary Jane, however, the biggest transformation is education. Once limited to finishing Grade 6 due to poverty, she became a working student to pursue high school and eventually college. Now a mother, she dreams of a better future for her child. “Dako kaayo ang natabang sa akong pagka-coffee farmer sa akong pamilya. Maka bayad mi sa tuition, hangtod karon nanganak nako, maka tabang nako sa akong pamilya.” [Being a coffee farmer has greatly helped my family. We can pay for tuition, and now that I have a child, I can also support my family.]
“Sa among komunidad, dako jud natabang ang kape. Karon, naa nami kaugalingong pari, nurse, midwife, maestra.” [In our community, coffee has helped a lot. Now, we have our own priests, nurses, midwives, and teachers.]
Mary Jane now looks ahead with hope, not just for continued education for her child, but for the day her community will have its own coffee processing machines, made possible through sustained partnerships and cooperative strength.
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The co-investment between FSSI and FPSDC has played a crucial role in transforming KSMPC, particularly by empowering women leaders like Dah and Mary Jane within the agriculture and cooperative sectors. This partnership not only strengthens the cooperative’s capacity but also provides women with the resources and opportunities to lead, grow their businesses, and improve their communities.
Looking ahead, FPSDC envisions expanding its support for community enterprises like Kauyagan Savers MPC, especially women social enterprises by strengthening its partnership with FSSI.
FPSDC states that there is a strong business case for strengthening the co-investment partnership and providing capability building assistance to better address the evolving needs of social enterprises. The Federation is also working to enhance its logistics and distribution services, enabling social enterprises to bring their products from local farms to mainstream markets such as hotels, supermarkets, and restaurants. This end-to-end support — from production to marketing — ensures that partners receive assistance at every stage. Over the next three to five years, FPSDC aims to scale more microenterprises into small enterprises and develop its own office and warehouse where members can benchmark and learn from each other’s growth.
As Tetay says, “Because FSSI and FPSDC share similar [social, environmental, and economic] bottom lines, there’s great potential to do more impactful work together.”
FSSI and FPSDC’s partnership with women social enterprises like Kauyagan Savers Multi-Purpose Cooperative is empowering communities to thrive and create lasting impact that will reshape the agricultural landscape for generations.
