VVVVVolume I, Nolume I, Nolume I, Nolume I, Nolume I, Number 4umber 4umber 4umber 4umber 4 MaMaMaMaMayyyyy-June 20-June 20-June 20-June 20-June 201111155555

The SAFEST 6th General Assemblywas held on May 31, 2015 at 9o’clock in the morning at the GSACFounders Hall. It was attended byalmost 45% of the one hundredsixteen (116) regular members.

Before the start of the GeneralAssembly, the distribution of schoolsupplies, school uniforms and schoolbags first took place for the Back-to-School Program and the Tree GrowingProject recipients. Ninety six (96)recipients were present for thedistribution. The scholars togetherwith their parents were also providedwith snacks.

After the distribution of schoolsupplies for the SAFEST Scholars, theGeneral Assembly started with anopening prayer led by the BOTPresident, Rev. Melchor Esperida, andthe reading of the Proof of Notice byMs. Genoveva Espaldon, SAFESTSecretary. The President’s and theTreasurer ’s Reports came next,followed by the Program Reports ofthe in-charge trustee for the followingprograms:1. Education Program (BOT Ma. Aida

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After all the reports, the electionof officers came next. As persuggestion of BOT Engr. Rene Hermo,the old officers were retained andonly one was elected to complete theeleven (11) Board of Trustees.

BOT President Rev. Esperida as wellas the body agreed with this but anelection was still held to be able toknow the ranking of the officers whichis as follows:1. Engr. Rene Hermo - 472. Rev. Msgr. Melchor Esperida - 363. Leonisa Ferreras - 344. Ma. Aida Erestain - 33,5. Dr. Stephen Henry Totanes -316. Nilda Labitag - 267. Genoveva Capsa - 168. Imelda Fajardo - 16,9. Nimfa Escarcha - 1310. Edgar Arceo - 1011. Diogenes Engay - 8

SAFEST of COMMUNITIES,INC. 6TH ANNUAL GENERAL

ASSEMBLYErestain)

a. Back to School Programb. Tree Growing Programc. College Scholarship Program

2. Health and Medical Program (BOTEngr. Rene Hermo)

a. Medical and Dental Missionand Bloodletting Project

b. Toilet Bowl Donation3. Environmental and LivelihoodProjects (BOT Nilda Labitag/ BOTPresident Rev. Melchor Esperida)

a. Malunggay Tree PlantingProject

b. Fruit Tree Growing Programc. Pili Tree Growing ProgramAside from the said reports, BOT

President, Rev. Melchor Esperida,reported also about the SAFESTFinances and Funds. The Sources ofFunds of SAFEST come from the GSACcontribution, donations, membershipfees and deposits in trust.

GSAC SERVICE CENTERSat the HOME OFFICE (clock-wise)

DIAGNOSTIC CENTERFARM LEVEL GRAINSCENTER (FLGC)GSAC MARTHOSTEL/FOUNDERS HALL

Every year different activities are lined-up for the Gubat fiestacelebration. One of these is the nightly dancing at the EncinasPavilion of Gubat sponsored by different organization/entities/agencies held before the grand fiesta.

June 4, 2015 was the date set for the COOP NIGHT “Pabayle” withthe Tropicanos Band of Gubat providing old-time favorite music.

Entrance was free for everybody. Despite this come-on, however,attendance was not as expected because other barangaycelebrations (dancing) were held simultaneously with the coopnight.

At the start, those in the audience just sat down, listened andenjoyed the songs rendered by the band’s three lovely crooners.However it did not take long for them to be inspired to start dancing.

The highlight of the night was the dance contest with prizes galore.Directors Sally Paps and Nilda Labitag and Mr. Francisco Escober,GSAC employee were the judges.And the winners …

Waltz – Mr. Honesto and Mrs. Catalina HuertasCha-Cha-Cha – Mr. Orly Jamisola and daughterPantomina – Mr. Jenny Don and partnerModern – Mr. and Mrs. Felicito Felices

Coop Night Pabayle was still a night to remember!

Mr. Jhad Adaque, Marketing Advisor, facilitated an in-housePERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT TRAINING for forty-eight (48)participants held at GSAC FOUNDERS HALL last June 19,-20, 2015.

The GSAC officers and key personnel who are identified as frontliners in the cooperative’s operation attended the training.

The training covered topics on:Personal care and Grooming-appropriate attire and behavior that professionals mustattainGood customer service-proper acknowledgment of concerns from clients’improved communication and evaluation skillsBuilding self-confidence-changing the mindsetPersonal formation and Development-personal learning from the past and relating these tooneself

The participants went through several workshops during the two-day seminar. They ended the seminar with personal reflections andnew outlook in their roles as advocates of cooperativism.

There have been queries regarding theimplementation of the GSAC PENSION PROGRAM forSENIORS. The guideline is hereby being reprinted forthe information of members.

PENSION PRPENSION PRPENSION PRPENSION PRPENSION PROGRAM FOROGRAM FOROGRAM FOROGRAM FOROGRAM FORSENIOR MEMBERSSENIOR MEMBERSSENIOR MEMBERSSENIOR MEMBERSSENIOR MEMBERS

As a way of recognizing the loyalty of the members whocontinuously patronize the services of the Gubat St. AnthonyCooperative, the Board of Directors approved the creation ofa Pension Fund for Senior Members per BOD Res. No. 70, s-2011.

Terms and Conditions:Must be at least sixty five (65) years old;Must have completed at least 20 years as regularmember;Must have a Share Capital of at least Php15,000;Must have a savings deposit of at least Php5,000(regular and ATM);Must be a member in good standing for the last 3years before the pension period;Pension benefits shall start upon reaching the No. 1and No. 2 and ends when the member dies orterminates his/her membership.Schedule of Monthly Pension Benefits:

AGE YEARS OF MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP PENSION 65-69 20 yrs Php500.00 70-74 25 yrs Php600.00 75 & up 30 yrs Php700.00

Please note: There shall be an additional Php50.00 pensionfor every Php5,000.00 additional deposit over the requiredPhp50,000 Share Capital.

REQUIREMENTS:

Duly filled-out application form.Submission of the following:a. Birth Certificate or Marriage Contractb. Membership IDc. Membership passbookMust maintain an ATM/Savings account with GSACMust report personally to GSAC every six months. (Anotification must be forwarded to the office in casethe member cannot personally appear forverification.)

Please take note that a member has to apply to avail of thePENSION.***This IRR is subject to periodic review and change basedon the financial performance of GSAC.

In-House PIn-House PIn-House PIn-House PIn-House PersonalityersonalityersonalityersonalityersonalityDeDeDeDeDevvvvvelopment elopment elopment elopment elopment Training HeldTraining HeldTraining HeldTraining HeldTraining Held

COOP NIGHT COOP NIGHT COOP NIGHT COOP NIGHT COOP NIGHT “P“P“P“P“Pabaabaabaabaabayle”yle”yle”yle”yle”Up and AUp and AUp and AUp and AUp and Awwwwwaaaaayyyyy

B. MICROFINANCEASA/SME

Lerma FiguerasJigger EngayRaymond DicenVarn BuenaobraRamil OliquinoNolito LorenzanaKim Bryan BisnarChristian GarciaJose Esperanzate

MICRO-AGRIRomeo EsteraJerome Banaga

BULUSAN EXTENSION OFFICEFred DeunaMilagros CaballeroRichie Polo

PRODUCTS AND SERVICESA. SAVINGS PRODUCTS

Savings DepositTime DepositYouth SaversAflatoun Savingsand Special Savingswith 2.50%-8.00% PAand no withholding tax.

B. LOAN PRODUCTSRegular LoanExpress LoanAdditional LoanAgri-Production Loan (regular and micro)Collateralize LoanOutreach LoanSalary LoanPetty Cash LoanSpecial Loan for SavingsEducational LoanMedical LoanASA/SME Loan.

C. AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE24/7 Service

GSAC SERVICE CENTERSDIAGNOSTIC CENTERGSAC MARTFARM LEVEL GRAINS CENTER (FLGC)FIXED ASSETSFounders HallHostel, Etc.

GUBAT ST. ANTHONY COOPERATIVECooperative Bldg. & CompoundCor. Luna & Quezon Sts.Gubat, SorsogonTel Nos: 056-311-1264/311-0430 FAX: 056-311-1763Mobile: 0919.4993468Email: gsacsavings_credit@yahoo.com or

gsac1964@yahoo.com

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GSAGSAGSAGSAGSAC GUBC GUBC GUBC GUBC GUBAAAAAT BRANCHT BRANCHT BRANCHT BRANCHT BRANCHis located at corner Luna and Quezon Sts., Brgy. LunaCandol, Gubat, Sorsogon. This is the oldest branch ofGSAC because it is here where GSAC established itsfirst office. It has 38 employees whose services arereadily available for GSAC members.4 5

FEAFEAFEAFEAFEATURE:TURE:TURE:TURE:TURE:GUBGUBGUBGUBGUBAAAAATTTTT

BRANCHBRANCHBRANCHBRANCHBRANCH

A. SAVINGS AND CREDITTellering

Hilda BellenMelody EndayaMae FajardoKristofer SoMyra SiarezErwin Enaje

Outreach/SalaryJuliet BuenaobraDiomar Blacer

Deliquency MonitoringLeanie EmbateMa. Cecilia Sta. Ana

ATMJanet Dy, Mae Pilapil

Loan ProcessingFlorette MarchanAileen EscopeteMa. Precy EspedidoHarold Teves

BookkeeperArchel Corpuz

AFLATOUNAlan OscilladaRanilo Escaro

CIBIMelchor EsurenaReggie Nonsol

Branch Manager OIC

OSCAR PEREZ

Loan Supervisors

Annie MacaraegThea Estrellado

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DDDDDAAAAATEMCO MembersTEMCO MembersTEMCO MembersTEMCO MembersTEMCO Membersat GSAat GSAat GSAat GSAat GSACCCCC12 members of the Daraga Teachers Multi-PurposeCooperative visited GSAC June 25, 2015.

This visit aimed to gain insights and strategies they couldreplicate in their small cooperative with 318 members.

CEO Leonisa L. Ferreras and members of the BOD Dir.Salvacion H. Paps, Dir. Maria Aida F. Erestain, Dir. Jaime S.Endraca and Dir. Diogenes Engay and the editorial staff ofBALANGIBOG welcomed the group.

Their spokesperson, Daisy Buendia, introduced theDATEMCO members.

A powerpoint presentation by the CEO gave the group abird’s eye-view of what GSAC is.

A question-and-answer portion followed wherein allqueries raised were satisfactorily answered by the host GSACofficers.

Among the topics raised were: what an associate membersis, how it differs from a regular member and the GSACservices.

Dir. Engay explained an effective measure done by GSACon teachers’ loans--the automatic payroll deduction.

Dir. Erestain talked about the AFLATOUN and AFLATEENSavings. In addition, CEO Ferreras stated that AFLATOUNSavings has now a total amount of Php4M (based on 2014report). Furthermore Dir. Erestain volunteered to assistDATEMCO in going about the AFLATOUN Savings in theircooperative.

Dir. Endraca shared inputs on the ongoing programs forfarmer-members. The latest is on its venture on cacaoproduction.

In her talk the CEO stressed TRUST-the very basic factor ofGSAC’s success. Members are assured they are sailing on aneven keel.

The National LiThe National LiThe National LiThe National LiThe National LivvvvvelihoodelihoodelihoodelihoodelihoodDeDeDeDeDevvvvvelopmentelopmentelopmentelopmentelopmentCorCorCorCorCorporation visits GSAporation visits GSAporation visits GSAporation visits GSAporation visits GSACCCCCA team composed of officers and staff from theNational Livelihood Development Corporation(NLDC) headed by Ms. Daisy Pagulayan, AreaManager for Luzon II, Manuel Q. Gotis, MemberBoard of Trustees, DILG and ten (10) othersincluding Dondon E. Guzman who is a Gubatnon,visited GSAC last April 23, 2015.

The team aimed have a dialogue with theBoard of Directors of GSAC chaired by Rene Hermo,about the conditions of the farmer-beneficiaries inthe Agrarian Reform Communities. They wanted tosee whether the livelihood programs supported byNLDC are working for the benefit of the farmers.From the dialogue, NLDC can learn the needs of theconduit and address the same by providing the necessary training(Capability Building Intervention) for the effective implementationof the agrarian related projects.

EDITORIAL BOARDFlora B. EscobedoMatea J. Girado

Salvacion H. PapsZosimo E. Gamba

Leonisa L. FerrerasGeneral Manager GSAC

Aida F. Erestain,EdCom Chair, BOD Member

Engr. Rene B. HermoBOD Chairman GSAC

CooperCooperCooperCooperCooperativativativativativesesesesesshould continueshould continueshould continueshould continueshould continuettttto be to be to be to be to be the mohe mohe mohe mohe motttttorororororttttthat uplifhat uplifhat uplifhat uplifhat uplifts andts andts andts andts and

dededededevvvvvelops telops telops telops telops thehehehehewwwwweakeakeakeakeakesesesesest part part part part part oft oft oft oft of

our localour localour localour localour localcommunities andcommunities andcommunities andcommunities andcommunities and

civil sociecivil sociecivil sociecivil sociecivil societytytytyty..... -----Pope Francis

From left: Ms. Daisy Pagulayan, Area Manager for Luzon II, Elmer G. Maglalang,OIC for Asset Servicing & Management Group, Mr. Jorge Basiao, Account Officer,Mr. Manuel Q. Gotis, Mr. Edelwin M. Fajardo, OIC-NLDC President, Ms. BambiGonzalez, Atty. Lanie D. Rivera and Ms. Ma. Victoria F. Torres, OIC-CorporateTreasurer. Seated is Mrs. Concepcion G. Dodd.