Name of organization: National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO)

URL: http://www.natcco.coop

Country: Philippines

Keywords: Cooperatives, Philippines

Description:

The National Confederation of Cooperatives or NATCCO was formed by credit union pioneers in the Philippines who believed that the task of cooperative development lies primarily in the hands of the private sector. These leaders believed in self-help, in the idea that unless people do something to solve their own problems, their situation will not get any better.

These leaders believed that to succeed, cooperatives have to be driven, capitalized and patronized by the members themselves rather than depending on government. They believed in membership responsibility. They upheld that this membership responsibility could only be established through cooperative education.

Thus, in the 1950's and 1960's, a large number of privately-initiated primary cooperatives (or cooperatives with individual persons as members) were formed. Between 1966 and 1976, these cooperatives formed five regional cooperative training centers (i.e. secondary co-ops). In 1977, the five regional training centers organized NATCCO, then known as the National Association of Training Centers for Cooperatives, to coordinate the provision of training and educational services at the national level, and serve as the voice of cooperatives belonging to the NATCCO network.

In response to the growing needs of primary cooperatives affiliates, NATCCO was converted into a multi-service national cooperative federation while the regional training centers were transformed into multi-service cooperative development centers in 1986. The acronym NATCCO was retained and its meaning converted to the present, National Confederation of Cooperatives.

Today, NATCCO is the biggest and strongest national federation of cooperatives in the country in terms of geographical reach, membership, financial capacity, and array of services.

Address: 227 J.P. Rizal Street, Project 4 1109 Quezon City, PHILIPPINES

Telephone Nos.: (632) 913-70-11 to 15

Fax No.: (632) 913-70-16

E-mail: ceo@natcco.coop