“Consistency and proper planning management.”
This is the crisp response of Shirly Dugyon-Atluna, manager of the Saranay Multi-purpose Cooperative (MPC), when asked about her secret for a lasting organizational leadership.
The Saranay MPC located in Alfonso Lista, Ifugao was originally established in 1993 and was registered with the Cooperative Development Authority a year after. However, it faced some difficulties in 2005. It was then revived in 2006 with Shirly’s mother taking the lead as manager of the MPC. Shirly was then involved in the cooperative as a part-time bookkeeper and loan officer in 2010 onwards.
As a part-time worker, Shirly was usually sent to various trainings and/or seminars called for the cooperative. These enabled her to learn and gain insights on various government programs and projects, particularly on agriculture. This ignited her passion to dream for improved agricultural activities in their community noting the challenges and aspirations of their farmer-members.
Despite not having a fixed salary for a part-timer, she continued to assist the cooperative until being designated as Officer-in-Charge in 2016 following her mother’s retirement in 2015. Three months later, Shirly became the manager.
As a woman leader, Shirly makes sure that they have a common dream as an organization which they plan together on how to achieve it.
“Consistency and proper planning management ang sa akin. Dapat may plan B, hindi ka hihinto sa plan A,” Shirly said.
She also recognizes that every agricultural stakeholder has a role to play when it comes to turning dreams into reality. As a government-assisted organization, she emphasized that active participation and cooperation when it comes to complying with required documents by funding agencies are important qualities for lasting partnerships.
Shirly added that her living principle is ‘doing what is right’. “Kung sa mali ka nag-umpisa, mali na lahat unless na itatama mo. Masarap sa pakiramdam na alam mong maganda yung ginagawa mo,” she expressed with relief.
With her commendable leadership going the extra mile, the Saranay MPC was able to receive various interventions from the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) such as the corn recirculating dryer and wheeler truck. The truck is currently used to transport their dried corn kernels to institutional buyers in Rizal Province and Batangas City, through the assistance of the DA-CAR’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD).
Last March 19, the DA-CAR formally turned over the Corn Warehouse amounting to Php2.6 Million to the MPC. The warehouse is part of their long-term goals as they intend to improve on the corn value chain in their community. Shirly, during the turnover and acceptance ceremony, shared that they aspire of buying corn produce from their co-farmers way back in 2007. And finally at present, this was realized through the DA-CAR and other partner agricultural stakeholders, particularly the Ifugao State University who allowed for the use of a one-hectare lot near Potia campus to house the building.
The MPC is currently working on their proposal for a corn processing center with the hopes to personally process their local corn products for value addition while cutting expenses for the transportation of raw products to existing processing centers outside the region.
Seeing the impact of the cooperative in the locality, the members continued to increase from less than a hundred members during its revival in 2006 to 773 members at present.
One’s principles and leadership make them leaders who are worthy of emulation. Shirly is a testament that with consistency, uprightness and proper planning management, an organization can grow, survive the challenges, and ultimately, remain relevant in the present times.
This women’s month, we continue to recognize our agricultural women leaders who continuously make impact in their organizations and/or communities. By JBAgrifino
