Barbaza Multi-Purpose Cooperative was borne out of Barbazeno’s struggle against poverty. Along with the mission to Christianize the people in the community and establish parochial secondary schools, the Mill Hill Missionaries initiated the organization of a credit union in Barbaza, Antique, to help members meet their financial needs and ease their living conditions. Such an initiative was intended to teach members to save and to promote cooperativism as a way of life. On July 20, 1964, Rev Fr John Tielen, curate of the town, took the lead with fourteen parochial leaders as pioneer members founded the Barbaza Credit Cooperative Union
(BCCUI) with six –hundred twenty-five pesos (P 625.00) as the initial share capital.
To capacitate the pioneer cooperators, namely Soledad Barrientos, Gideon Yongque, Sr., Jovita Nacionales, Jose Tingson, Sr.,
Ramon Baustista, Jose Andres, Sr., Estaneslao Inocentes (Treasurer), Tomas dela Cruz (Secretary), Jose Alavata, Antonio
Barrientos, Fidel Yongque, Sr., Vicente Amabran, Vicente Magtulis, and Romeo Nacionales, training and seminars on cooperatives
were conducted by Rev. Fr. Gerardus Pijnapple, parish priest from the town of Laua-an, and Bishop Cornelio de Wit, Diocesan
Credit Union Coordinator with the help of Technical Assistants from the Netherlands.
BCCUI was registered with the Bureau of Cooperative Development on May 20, 1965, then with the Department of Local
Government and Community Development with Certificate of Registration No. FF-170-RR on September 5, 1975.
In 1976, through the initiative of the Board of Directors, Barbaza Kilusang Bayan sa Pamimili, Inc., a consumer store was organized
to cater to the basic needs of the members.
On March 7, 1991, BCCUI was registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) under R.A. 6938 with Confirmation No.
ILO-C-096.
In 1992, considering the different services and programs offered and as approved by the General Assembly, BCCUI and BKBPI were
consolidated and adopted the name Barbaza Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and the registration was confirmed by the CDA on
September 11, 1992.
It was only in 1997 that Barbaza MPC could purchase a lot at Cubay, Barbaza, Antique, where the magnificent Main Office is
now situated. It was first occupied on August 3, 1997. This has opened more opportunities and increased accessibility to members.
Driven by innovations and dynamism, the coop embarked on another major project – the Coop Cable TV. It was inaugurated on
January 18, 1998. With its increasing viability, CATV services have expanded to neighboring towns in a joint venture with other
cooperatives of the respective towns.
With the approval of the CDA on the amended by-laws on June 24, 2002, the coop operation was expanded to other towns in
the provinces within Panay Island. Now, Barbaza MPC has 11 branches located strategically. The Culasi Branch was opened on
March 4, 2004; Sibalom Branch on July 2007; San Jose Branch on September 2008; Balasan, Iloilo Branch on August 15, 2010,
Barotac Viejo, Iloilo on September 8, 2012, and Caticlan Branch, Malay, Aklan on July 6, 2013, Molo Branch, Iloilo on May 18, 2014,
Kalibo Branch, Aklan, on January 24, 2015, Janiuay Branch, Iloilo, on February 10, 2019, and the latest milestone is the opening of  calinog Branch last January 08, 2022. The opening of the branches has helped more people alleviate their financial difficulties.
Barbaza MPC has paved the way towards the betterment of members’ lives.
To continuously respond to the needs of the members, BMPC developed diversely differentiated and viable financial programs and
allied services, and a few are: Financial Intermediary and Savings Mobilization Program (Savings/Time Deposit, Lending),
Electronic Financial Services (Kaya ATM, Kaya Payment Platform, Money Transfer), Coop Communication and Information (Coop
Cable TV and Internet), Agri-Aqua Programs (Otoshiami, Darag Chicken Contract Growing, Vegetables, Palay and Corn Trading),
Coop Education Program (BMPC Learning Center, Scholarship Program, Gender and Development), Membership Care Initiatives
(CAC, Lemos, Colisap, Coop Bood Bank), other Coop Allied Services (Coop Ocean View Resort,
Coop Pharmacy), Community Outreach and Members’ Welfare Program (Youth Program, Philhealth Subsidy, Sugod Bahay for
Elderly, Bisita Selda, SPES Program, School Feeding, Sped Sponsorship, Gugma sa Koop, Kabalaka Project, Adopt-a-School,
Brigada Skwela) Environmental Advocacy Programs (Tree Growing Project, Coastal Clean-Up, Palamunitan kang Tanan, Disaster
Risk Reduction Program).
In line with its efforts and developmental directions, Barbaza MPC is an affiliate of the Antique Federation of Cooperatives
(AFFCUI), Visayan Cooperative Development Center (VICTO), Western Visayas Alliance of Cooperatives (WVAC), Philippine
Central Fund (PCF), and the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO).
Guided by its mission and vision and adopting COOP-PESOS standards, Barbaza MPC, a multi-awarded coop, is paving the way
towards transforming and empowering the community – the reason for its birth!