Contact Person : Essex Ramones Lara

Position : General Manager

Main Office & Production Center: Peru, Lasam, Cagayan 3524

Cell Phone Nos : 0917-4586049 * 0917-4004051

Fax Nos. : 078-8441348 * 078-8441835 c/o DTI Cagayan

Bank Reference : Land Bank of the Philippines

DIRECT BENEFICIARIES:

• Rebel Returnees/ internal refugees
• Indigenous cultural minorities
• Marginalized upland/ lowland farmers
• Agrarian reform beneficiaries
• Women, retirees and elderly
• Out of school youth
• People’s organizations, self-help groups and non-government organizations

1. Technical and Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

2. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

3. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

4. Local Government of Lasam, Cagayan

5. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

6. Department of Agriculture (DA)

7. Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (BFAR)

8. Fiber Industry and Development Authority (FIDA)

9. Federation of Handmade Paper Makers and Converters Association (FEHPA)

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Become better informed. Your awareness in environmental issues can help in your decisions when voting for public officials and referenda, or can assist you in making responsible choices about consumer products. Share your knowledge with others.
• Make your views known by writing to the editors of newspapers, to your representatives in Congress and to other directors of public relations, NGO’s and Foundations. Urge them to support ecologically sound practices.
• Organize and support community-based cooperatives, federations and other people’s organizations. These are the potent instruments for social justice and economic development.
• Become a more conscientious consumer. Recycle newspapers, aluminum, other metals and glass. Use biodegradable products whenever possible and dispose of trash properly. Such efforts will minimize the destruction and pollution of natural habitats.
• Make space for wildlife. Support reforestation. Grow plants in your garden and put up nesting boxes and bird feeders.

OUR COMMITTED VISION

• To advocate and evolve consumer consciousness on the availability and uses of all natural fibers in various human needs and activities.
• To fully utilize viable, all natural organic, renewable, ecologically and environmentally friendly alternative agri- based strategies for long term productive and sustainable socio-economic development for the national survival.
• To strengthen and support the foundations of indigenous, self-help and self sustaining cooperative motivation, ingenuity and endeavors to address poverty, injustice, apathy, indolence and health nutrition.
• To harness talents, skills, resources, capital and opportunities of rural households to fully benefit man, harmoniously safeguard nature and assure appropriate sustainable development.

Manned and assisted by a group of farmers, workers, and dedicated environmentalists, ZINUNDUNGAN VALLEY MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE, INC. (ZVMPCI) is a self–help community based organization organized primarily to create, strengthen and support productive and sustainable development activities in the countryside using indigenous natural resources and innovative technologies. Thus, generate employment opportunities and uplift the living conditions of the Filipino community, especially the underprivileged and marginalized sectors who wants to live an honest and honorable life.

Years ago, Zinundungan Valley was not the peaceful community it is now. It’s people, land, and nature has all been witnesses to a live political conflict. In mainstream terms, it was then a hotbed of insurgency.

Through time and various political changes, the armed conflict in the valley subsided. Rebels, internal refugees, displaced farmers and indigenous cultural minorities embark on a challenging task of rebuilding their lives. One of the actions they took was the organization of the cooperative.

The cooperative was registered on December 16,1992 under CDA Reg. No. TUG. -330 initially with thirty members. As of December of 1999, there are 102 regular members and about 100 non regular members which majority are rebel returnees, internal refugees caused by the political conflicts, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and indigenous cultural minorities all residing along the upstream of the Zinundungan Valley, all with a common bond of interest who have voluntarily joined together to seek and achieved common social and economic end.

ZVMPCI is concerned about the nature and environment. We do work on grassroots organizing, information and education campaigns, research and situation assessment, environmental advocacy, reforestations and other community developments, appropriate farming technology and the like.

ZVMPCI is engaged in Handmade Paper making business venture, converting indigenous natural fibers and other agricultural wastes into paper sheets and related products.

The cooperative envision at helping restore God’s wonderful creation through a spiritual and moral value formation, ecologically sound and appropriate sustainable development strategies - People Centered Development – a cooperative that is " from the people and for the people".

Its primary concern therefore, is to make sure that our environment and cooperative members are cared for. A ministry of peace and reconciliation by doing justice to the poor and oppressed. To rebuild where there is destruction … to replant where there is denudation. Above all, to preserve nature and let thousands of lives bloom in Zinundungan Valley.
 
 

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