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Barangay Unity Key to Integrated Development Multi-Purpose Cooperative
The Chosen Path To Progress
“ Tan-awa ang usa ka kahoy, nagtubo niagi ang bagyo. Kinahanglan mabali para madaghan ang sanga.”
(Look at a tree, it grows after a storm. The branches need to be broken before it grows.) This is how the
growth of Barangay Magsaysay, Balamban, Cebu can be briefly described.
This barangay is known to be among the controversial
mountain barangays in Cebu due to its marijuana
plantations and peace and order concerns. Barangay
Captain Jose Bebelonio Pepito recounted the time
when he talked to his constituents and asked them
to choose between the seemingly easy yet dangerous
path or the difficult yet peaceful path to development.
And he was glad they choose the path to progress.
Derived from the word bukid, which means mountain,
BUKID-MPC (Barangay Unity Key to Integrated
Development Multi-Purpose Cooperative), is a
cooperative registered in 2000 that has contributed
to the development of the barangay. At the start,
the cooperative was a recipient of 675 hectares
DENR Comprehensive Site Development in
Barangay Magsayasay, Balamban, Cebu funded
by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
After this successful project, the cooperative also
operated and managed a Retail/Wholesale and
Consumer Store. Aside from this, BUKID-MPC also
acted as the main conduit of farmers to collectively
sell their agricultural produce. This track record
brought the cooperative to another endeavor.
In 2005, BUKID registered with the Fiber Industry
Development Authority (FIDA). This affiliation led
them to abaca production, a livelihood that was
not alien to them since the lolos (grandfathers) of
the place were abaca planters. The year after,
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DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VII
Product Catalogue 2011
30 hectares of collective area were planted to abaca
while individual farmers planted another 35 hectares.
Abaca is favored since it grows well in the area which
is 500 meters above sea level, and can be harvested
after three years and for the succeeding 50 years.
Convinced of its productive undertakings, other
agencies and projects such as PBSP, Environmental
Governance Project and DOST support the cooperative.
In 2007, BUKID availed of SET-UP to upgrade
the method of abaca stripping which is done through
handstripping. A spindle stripping machine was
purchased to improve production technology.
Inasmuch as the market for pulp is not profitable,
the machine has not been fully utilized. Demand
is great but the price of abaca in the market is low.
While awaiting developments in the abaca market,
the cooperative has focused on the growing of
agricultural crops particularly root crops and spices.
Establishing a food processing plant for their existing
produce and setting up fishponds is part of the goals
of BUKID. For now, it derives its income from the
produce of the eight hectares it owns and through
the lease of stalls that it operates.
While the test of perseverance for the people of
Barangay Magsaysay continues, the choice has
been made.
Barangay Unity Key to Integrated
Development Multi-Purpose Cooperative
(BUKID-MPC)
Barangay Magsaysay, Balamban, Cebu
Mr. Jose Bebelonio T. Pepito
Chairman, Board of Directors
Mobile: 0919 515 7410
0918 671 7035