ICOPED’s 61 years of service to cooperative movement

The Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED)* guested at Galing UPLB** Program by the College of Development Communication of the University of the Philippines Los Baños. The interview was held online last October 15, 2021 and was attended by ICOPED’s University Researcher Ms. Alicia R. Quicoy.  
 
Ms. Quicoy narrated the history of the Agricultural Credit and Cooperative Institute (ACCI) and how it was renamed to now the Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED).  
 
​Since its establishment in 1960 as a regional training center for cooperative management and credit administration and supervision, ACCI initially aims to assist the farmers in organizing into cooperatives and facilitating credit access for their farm operations. Its main functions were organizing and conducting research and extension activities and trainings and offering Basic cooperative courses for undergraduate and major courses for the graduate students enrolled at the Masters of Management majoring in Cooperative Management. 
 
On November 20, 2010, under the leadership of Dr. Isabelita M. Pabuyaon, ACCI was renamed to what we know as the Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED) to realign better its vision and mandate with the University’s thrust and the United Nation’s framework on cooperatives. Since then, ICOPED strengthened and widened its core programs on Academics, Research, Extension, and Public Service. 
 
As a future-proof and lead Institute of the University for cooperative development, Ms. Quicoy narrated how ICOPED assisted the cooperatives and other enterprise groups amidst the crisis. ICOPED, as a front runner in academics, immediately adapted to the situation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic by shifting from face-to-face trainings to online learning. 
 
As a prime mover in research, ICOPED focuses on the theme of sustainable and inclusive cooperative enterprise development. ICOPED adopts sustainable cooperative business models on cooperative marketing and value chains, best cooperative practices for social and economic development, rural and agricultural cooperatives and self-help organizations, policy and institutions for cooperatives, and cooperative awareness and knowledge resource development. 
 
As an innovator in extension and dynamic force in public service, ICOPED organized a series of FREE trainings and webinars on attending, managing, and handling online meetings and seminars to cooperatives. In this manner, cooperatives will be more familiar with the different online applications for their meetings, general assembly, and communication with their members. ICOPED also strengthened the use of their social media account (i.e., Facebook Page) to communicate with their clients and improve their website to be a client-friendly platform. ICOPED also continuously conducts its free cooperative awareness seminars for the youth annually to raise awareness on cooperative movement. Aside from these, ICOPED extends its assistance to cooperatives affected by the Taal volcano eruption in 2020 by organizing a donation drive for the affected members of the cooperatives.
 
ICOPED’s International Conference on Cooperatives also serves as a venue for cooperatives to promote their services and products. It also encourages research works and outputs related to cooperatives and enterprises and raise cooperative awareness among the youth, public leaders, and communities.
 
Coinciding with the Cooperative Month Celebration this October, ICOPED will also celebrate its 61st Anniversary under the theme, “Through the years in the Service of Cooperatives.” This intimate celebration aims for the former ACCI and ICOPED staff to reminisce on the memories they had with the Institute and encourage the current ICOPED staff to continue pursuing cooperative development.  AMQuilloy
 
*ICOPED can be reached via e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected]. Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/uplbicoped and visit our website at www.icoped.com. 
 
**Galing UPLB is a weekly, multi-platform program that features news, events, researches, personalities, and alumni of the UPLB community. This program is produced by the College of Development Communication of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (CDC-UPLB) in partnership with the UPLB Office of Public Relations, Office of Alumni Relations, and the UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension. It is aired online at the Official Facebook Page of Radyo DZLB 1116 kHz: Ang Tinig ng Kaunlaran Program (https://www.facebook.com/RadyoDZLB) every Friday at 3:00 to 4:00 PM hosted by Mr. RJ Galang of the CDC-UPLB.