SMMPC (B): Working Towards Sustainable Development
This case study describes the restructuring of Simbayanan ni Maria Multipurpose Cooperative (SMMPC), Philippines, five years after its establishment in 1996.
SMMPC’s founder, Father Anton examined the growth of the organization over 5 years and suggested several directions for growth. These suggestions aimed to help SMMPC serve its mission and enhance the potential of its members for self-reliant growth and sustainable development. These suggestions included:
- Expansion of services;
- Strengthening organizational capacity;
- Expanding offerings to include microlending, manpower placement, and pawnshop services in response to growing demand for credit;
- Training and educating staff at all levels to make operations and internal control mechanisms more effective and efficient;
- Standardization of policies;
- Restructuring the audit set-up to strengthen financial position and credibility in the community;
- Adopting the Grameen Bank’s concept of group guarantee to minimize cases of delinquency.
SMMPC would also work towards sustainability by improving operations, building its membership base, providing market-responsive services and expanding geographically. For SMMPC’s social marketing thrust, Father Anton suggested that SMMPC link with governmental and non-governmental groups in line with the principles of the cooperative movement.
