1907 – A rural cooperative bill was introduced at the Philippine Assembly by Teodoro Sandiko of Bulacan. The bill was disapproved.

1915 – The Rural Credit Cooperative Association Act was approved by the Philippine Assembly.

1926 – There were already 541 rural credit cooperatives in 42 provinces nationwide. Most of the co-ops failed.

1927 – The Cooperative Marketing Law was enacted, calling the formation of state-initiated farmers' marketing cooperatives.

1938 – Vigan Credit Union, Inc. was founded by Rev. Allen R. Huber, one of the earliest privately-initiated co-ops in the country.

1939 – It was estimated that there were 570 credit coops, 150 farmers' coops and 48 consumers' coops.

1952 – The Agricultural Credit Cooperative Financing Administration (ACCFA) was established. The government organized Farmers' Cooperative Marketing Associations (FACOMAs) and Producers Marketing Associations (PROCOMAs) by providing collateral-free loans funded by the USAID.

1957 – The Philippine Non-agricultural Credit Act (RA No. 2023) was implemented. Non-agricultural co-ops offices and factories were recognized.

1957 – The Catholic Church called for the organization of credit cooperatives in parishes all over the country.

1969 – The National Electrification Administration (NEA) was created with the objective of total rural electrification through rural electric cooperatives.

1973 – PD No. 175 was issued as component of the land reform program (PD No. 27), which made it compulsory for a tenant-farmer to join a pre-cooperative or Samahang Nayon. The SNs were encouraged to form Area Marketing Coops (AMCs) and cooperative rural banks (CRBs) on a province-wide basis.

1985 – There were 16,000 SNs, 29 CRBs, 64 AMCs, 1,456 credit coops, 300 marketing coops, 132 producers coops, 284 service coops, and 50 coop federations, one super-palengke (under KKK which later failed), and one national coop insurance.

** The historical experience shows that co-ops initiated by the private sector based on self-reliance proved to be more enduring and successful.**

1987 – New Constitution ratified
"Congress shall create an agency to promote the viability and growth of cooperatives as instruments for social justice and economic development." Art. XII, Sec. 15

1990 – A new Cooperative Code (R.A. No. 6938) was enacted
"It is the declared policy of the state to foster the creation and growth of cooperatives as a practical vehicle for promoting self-reliance and harnessing people power towards the attainment of economic development and social justice" Article 2

Historical Background on Philippine Cooperatives - Present

• Over 60,000 registered coops nationwide, of which about 50% are operational

 

• About 57% are agricultural multipurpose

 

• Involve or affect some 5 million Filipinos

 

• The most successful are co-ops performing savings and credit

 

• Most successful are co-ops that are based on self-reliance