By Mary joy Valiente

MAGSAYSAY, Lanao del Norte  — The Magsaysay Farmers and Fisherfolks Agriculture Cooperative (MFFAC) under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase II, successfully hosted its 1st Annual General Membership Assembly and Election of Officers on May 7, in Brgy. Tipaan, Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte. 

This significant milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter for the cooperative, further advancing its mission of sustainable agricultural and aquaculture-based enterprise development.

Spearheaded by the Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO) of LDN, the event brought together members, partners, and local government representatives for a day of collaboration, planning, and decision-making.

The assembly covered a series of significant discussions focused on strengthening the cooperative’s direction and sustainability. Key agenda items included enterprise development planning and a review of the cooperative’s current financial standing. 

SAAD-PPMSO LDN staff presented the input value vs. production, offering members meaningful insights into the economic returns of their aquaculture investments and helping guide future decisions.

Following this, Ms. Rotchel Atay, the cooperative’s treasurer, delivered a comprehensive financial report, providing an overview of the group’s current financial standing and progress. This was followed by a discussion among members, where they explored potential business ventures and mapped out strategic plans for the cooperative’s expansion. 

One key initiative discussed was the establishment of a cooperative store, which they aim to launch before the end of May of this year. With strong unity and shared vision among members, the cooperative is poised for continued growth, with greater opportunities and promising possibilities.

During the assembly, an election was held to appoint a new set of officers, who will assume a pivotal role in guiding the cooperative toward the achievement of its objectives and fostering its continued growth.. 

Additionally, the cooperative, which was officially registered on April 14, 2025, discussed the next steps for applying for BIR tax exemption. 

In relation to this, the Municipal Cooperative Development Officer (MCDO) of Magsaysay provided valuable guidance on compliance processes and outlined potential enterprise opportunities, reaffirming full support for the cooperative’s growth and offering continued technical assistance as they move forward with business ventures and the expansion of aquaculture activities

The event concluded both productive and commendable, highlighting the strong partnership between the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region-10 SAAD Program, LGU Magsaysay, PPMSO LDN, and the cooperative’s members—beneficiaries of the SAAD Program who are now actively engaged in shaping their organization’s future.