by Xyla Mercedita E Gualberto
The first PagBAG-o Shop, the official livelihood hub of the Xavier Ecoville Multipurpose Cooperative (XEMPCO), opened on March 8 at the H-3B Miranda Bldg, Chaves St, Divisoria.
Fr Charlie Cenzon, SJ led the blessing ceremonies. Livelihood partners Mr Arsenio Sebastian of the Rotary Club West and Ms Eileen Ruba of the Xavier University Student Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) graced the event. Community Development partner for Values Formation Mr Art Limas of Gawad Kalinga also came to express his support.
The PagBAG-o shop showcases XEMPCO’s food and non-food products. You will find stacks of its locally-made peanut butter and the PagBAG-o bag collection. This includes canvass totes, leatherette bags, file organizers and coin purses. Each piece is sewn and conceptualized by the women of Xavier Ecoville.
STARTING SMALL
Fr Cenzon likened the shop’s potential to that of a mustard seed. It starts out small but with the continuous work of watering it, the shop will grow and expand its livelihood ventures.
The XEMPCO started operating on February 2012. A small group of household heads decided to run a make shift sari-sari store that carried the community’s basic needs. They used their own money as staring capital. Eventually, it won more members and got officially registered in September that year. It then started its credit and loan services with the assistance of the Peace and Equity Foundation in October. XEMPCO focused on capacitating its members through a month-long skills training in November and opened its wholesaling enterprise in December.
STEPPING UP
XEMPCO grew as it received more support from partners such as Give2Asia which funded its tree nursery and sewing enterprise. Tipi Wood also assisted the coop in developing its agricultural enterprise. In April 2012, it moved to its office funded by Steag State Power Inc. and Rotary Club West. The land was donated by the local government unit of Barangay Lumbia.
Xavier Ecoville extends its services to the residents outside of the village. In July 2013, XEMPCO partnered with Maybank to come up with its Maybank Manpower enterprise. A few months after, in November, it officially launched the PagBAG-o Project, a creative collaboration between the unemployed housewives of Xavier Ecoville who produce the bags, and the Xavier University students and alumni who make the design and lead in the marketing efforts.
CHANGING LIVES
Today XEMPCO has five major enterprises: sewing, food processing, manpower, agriculture, wholesaling, and credit and loan. It provides employment, income for its members through dividends and support for small-scale enterprises to the Xavier Ecoville community and residents of Brgy. Lumbia and downtown Cagayan de Oro City.
The PagBAG-o shop is proof that starting small and dreaming big can lead to sustainable development to communities. Witness this story of growth and visit their store today.
Xavier Ecoville is a resettlement community for TS Sendong survivors located in Brgy. Lumbia. It is facilitated by Xavier University, the community members, the local government, donors and other partners for a self-sufficient and value-laden community.