Operation of Higher Education Institution-Based Cooperatives in Nueva Ecija

This study evaluated the operation of Higher Education Institution (HEI)-based cooperatives in Nueva Ecija. It described the cooperatives' historical antecedents and different aspects of operation in terms of organization and management, market and marketing, production/technical and financial aspects. The study also identified the challenges and problems encountered by the cooperatives. The study employed the descriptive type of research and the respondents of the study were the general managers and members from two public and two private HEIs in Nueva Ecija. The result of the study revealed that HEI-based cooperatives are classified as credit, multi-purpose, consumer and housing cooperatives, all operating for more than two decades. All of the cooperatives have the same set of key officers who managed the operation of the organization. They used fliers, social media and public announcement to disseminate information. The cooperatives primarily offered cash loans and selling of various commodities. As to fund resources, cooperatives sourced out their fund through the share of a capital subscription among the members. Top problems encountered by the cooperatives include limited membership expansion, decreased volume of sales, difficulties in marketing loan packages to faculty members with high take-home pay, time management and availability of officers and slow retrieval of land titles from National Housing Authority (NHA). Recommendations offered to improve the operation of cooperatives are continuous enhancement of their operation through the integration of technology, additional personnel, new services and crafting new policies that will benefit more members of the cooperatives.