Philippine E-Journals

Social and Economic Development Benefits of BFI Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Don Carlos Bukidnon

Bienvenido M. Flores | Paul Gerald G. Teruel

 

Abstract:

This study determined the social and economic development benefits received by the members of the BFI Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Don Carlos Bukidnon. Specifically, it focused on the profile of the respondents in terms of age, gender, educational attainment, occupation, family monthly income, and length of years in the cooperative, the degree of development benefits of BFI Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative in terms social development and economic development benefits, the significant difference in the perception of the respondents in the degree of development benefits before and after joining the cooperative, and the perception of the respondents in the degree of development benefits of the cooperative when grouped according to profile. Using the descriptive method of research, a total of 64 regular members of the BFI Employees’ Multi- Purpose Cooperative were taken as respondents. A standardized questionnaire which was adopted from E.J. Lozano (2008) was used as the main tool in gathering the data. The data were tallied, and statistically tested, analyzed and interpreted using frequency counts and percentage distribution, weighted mean, t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study found that majority of the respondents were 51-60 years of age and were females and housewives who were mostly high school level and with monthly income within the bracket of P5,001-10,000, and they have been in the cooperative for 11-15 years. The degree of development benefits and the social and economic benefits of the respondents before and after joining the BFI Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative showed an increase from a moderately high level to a very high level. The test of difference in the level of social and economic benefits of the respondents before and after joining cooperative was significant showing that all indicators showed an increase in the degree of development benefits. When grouped according to profile, there was a significant difference between the social and economic benefits of the respondents in terms of occupation only. From the findings of the study, it can be said that the Bukidnon Farms Inc. Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative has helped the members in the community to meet their basic and emergency needs, to provide capital for small businesses and productive projects, to get college education and vocational trainings, to acquire houses and lots, to buy essential commodities at reasonable prices, and most important of all, to develop human values. Hence, the cooperative has provided both social and economic benefits among its the members.