International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue X, October 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
Venus Sofia Espinas, Joseph Bryan Guerzon, Pauline Joy Mijares, Benz Arian Sibala, Joan Zinampan, Assoc. Prof. Zandro Estella*
Department of Cooperatives and Social Development, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippines
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: The study aims to know the strategies used by the cooperatives in maintaining the commitment of its members in times of pandemic. The researchers used the qualitative method by conducting interviews to qualified key and secondary informants from the five (5) community-based multi-purpose cooperatives in Quezon City.
Results reveal that there are five (5) reasons why members display commitment in the cooperative, to wit: the benefits and rewards received from the organization; the trust established in the cooperatives, the fellowship enjoined by the members; the affirmation towards the members and the well-defined purpose of the organization, the study also highlighted the important role played by the coop leaders in addressing the concerns of its members during the crisis.
Keywords: Cooperative Strategies, Cooperatives in the Times of Pandemic, Strategies used by multi-purpose cooperatives, Multi-purpose Cooperatives, Members Commitment.
I. INTRODUCTION
Globally, we have been experiencing the pandemic for 2 years now. Some of the countries have already recovered and are now continuing what was normal before the pandemic. Most third world countries, such as the Philippines, are currently recovering from the impact that the pandemic has had on their economies. At first, the spread of the virus caused the government to pass restrictions in order for the virus to not continuously spread around the country. As such, it has also caused most of the establishments, businesses, schools (private or public), small businesses, churches, etc. to stop their operations. That has caused more damage to our economy.
A cooperative is defined as an autonomous association of people united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.