Batangas Egg Producers Multi-purpose Cooperative (BEPCO) started in 2010 with 25 members aspiring to establish an egg processing plant in San Jose, Batangas, which is known as the “Egg Basket of the Philippines.”

BEPCO started by gathering the produce of its members, transforming them into different egg products, and marketing them. With the intention of promoting eggs to the next generation, they have a program called “Eggs for Healthier Kids.” Ms. Judith Mangmang, the Manager of BEPCO explains, “para mapataas natin ang konsumo ng itlog,  gusto natin itong gawing masaya, masustansya at masarap. Itinatransform natin ang table egg, ang ordinaryong itlog para maging pasturized egg, ready to eat eggs at in the future ay gusto rin natin itong maging egg powder para magkaroon ng mas mahabang shelf life.” They also have ready to eat eggs for busy people. “Kung wala nang oras magluto, kukuha na lang ng itlog at ready to peel na. They call them “Itlogsaeyo”.

Although BEPCO has been operating for more than ten (10) years already, just like any other business, its operations were also greatly affected by the pandemic due to Covid-19. Ms. Mangmang narrates, “Noong panahon na nagkaroon ng lockdown talaga pong nakakapag-alala kung ano ba talaga ang mangyayari sa hinaharap.  Nagkaroon talaga tayo ng uncertainty. Noong panahon ng ECQ nitong 2020 wala po talaga kaming natanggap na orders. Ang aming mga kliyente ay nahirapan makapagbayad ng mga nauna naming naideliver na produkto. Talaga nagkaroon ng challenge sa liquidity ng cooperatiba at dahil dito ay naging challenge din kung paano namin mababayaran ang sinuply na produkto ng aming mga farmers.”

She tells about how they learned about the Agri-Negosyo (ANYO) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), where they were able to borrow additional capital which helped bridge their business. “Nung nalaman po naming na may ganitong programa ang kagawaran ng agrikultura ay nag-apply kami sa DA-ACPC dahil ang kanilang loan ay zero percent interest at tiyak pwede naming maibalik sa loob ng limang taon. Napakahalaga po nito sa aming liquidity. Hindi namin agad masabi kung kailan kami mababayaran ng amin mga kliyente. Ang P10 million na aming nahiram ay talagang nag bridge para sa aming financial needs.

She is pleased that they were able to get the needed financial assistance in time of their need. “Ang maganda naman dito sa programa ng DA-ACPC ay madali nilang naproseso ang aming mga requirements at narelease nila sa tamang panahon ang kailangan naming financial assistance.”

BEPCO is thankful that DA-ACPC entrusted them to avail of such an amount. “Sa totoo lang po talaga napakahirap mag-avail ng mga loans mula sa commercial banks dahil kami ay kooperatiba at yung assurance na mabalik ng isang coop ang pera ay minsan ay in question.  Salamat po sa DA-ACPC na napagkatiwalaan nila ang coop na maibabalik namin ang aming hiniram na pera.”

Ms. Mangmang is confident that they will be able to pay their loan because of ACPC’s flexible loan term.  “Ang maganda sa amortization schedule ng ACPC, binigyan kami ng eighteen months na grace period at ang schedule ay mas magaan. Sa buwanan po naming operasyon nagsusubi na kami ng pambayad sa aming nahiram sa ACPC.”

These are the words of advice from the manager of the cooperative: Ngayong pandemic ang mahalaga ay magkaroon tayo ng pananampalataya at huwag mawalan ng pag-asa. Para sa mga farmers at coop, lumapit sa DA-ACPC para mag-avail ng mga programa na ginawa para tulungan ang sektor ng agrikultura. Sana makita ng mga kasamahan natin sa hanapbuhay na ang tulong na ito ay para sa atin. At the same time, kailangan nating pagtrabahuhan na maibalik din ang ating inutang.”

BEPCO was able to continue its operations despite the uncertainty which they experienced during the pandemic. BEPCO continuously helps to uplift the livelihood of poultry raisers in San Jose Batangas and aims promote egg products as “masaya, masustansya at masarap’.  Indeed, BEPCO is the “Egg Innovation Hub of the Egg Basket of the Philippines.”