The Compelling Objective

In 1958, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) employees, as anyone else in the Philippines were already faced with growing financial needs to address the growing family and sustain the lifestyle changes brought about by modern times. To address these needs and to improve the financial independence of the employees, fifteen employees namely: Rafael Canseco, Ricardo Padua, Rafael Cortez, Jesus Lorenzo, Remedios Garcia, Mabini Villadolid, Juan Paguia, Moises Urbiztondo, Jose Reambillo, Manuel Manapat, Primitivo Viado, Cesar Cartera, Regino Ramirez, Josefina Siaron and Ciriaco Farolan thought of setting up a cooperative for the employees. Thus, the birth of the PLDT Employees Credit Cooperative Association (PECCA) in December 5, 1958. The founding of PECCA was a recognition of the value and strength of cooperativism---members achieving common wellbeing through s haring, collaboration and solidarity.

Small Beginnings

With a total initial membership of 30 employees, PECCA’s financial foundation was built on a P500.00 fixed deposit from each member and a P5,000.00 loan from the PLDT’s rank and file union. It initially extended loans of up to a maximum of P50.00. Initially, PECCA had to collect fixed deposits and loan payments directly from the members as it took some time before the American management of PLDT consented to salary check-off deductions.

The Spirit of Cooperativism

The spirit of cooperativism that PECCA planted among the PLDT employees continued to grow through the years. Even if the members approved the move to transform PECCI into what was later known as the PLDT Employees Credit Cooperative, Inc. (PECCI), which calls for the adoption of the New Articles of Cooperation and By-Laws, the same cooperative spirit and values remained strong among members. The transformation of PECCA to PECCI was simply in compliance with the requirement of the Department of Local Government and Community Development for it to be registered and to operate as a full-pledged cooperative organization.

Steadfast Leadership

While the impressive growth of PECCI can best be attributed to the continuing commitment and patronage of its members, the stewardship legacies of three of its general managers---Mabini Villadolid, Constantino Pastrana and Rodrigo Profeta---were distinctly singled out and credited because of their lasting impact on the stability and growth of the organization. Villadolid guided the operations during the organization’s formative years specifically through the institutionalization, including the recording, of administrative procedures and financial policies. Pastrana instituted a comprehensive benefit plan for members and Profeta pushed for a more aggressive posture in PECCI’s financial policies and direction in the early 1980s by providing members with more services as the Philippines reeled from the effects of an economic crisis.

Inevitable Growth

In 1986, recognizing the need for a suitable and permanent headquarters to better serve its members, PECCI purchased the major portion of the fourth floor of the Universal-Re Building at Paseo de Roxas corner Perea Streets, Makati City. PECCI opened its doors to employees of the PLDT subsidiaries and in the late 1990, to sustain its membership growth, despite the reduction in the workforce of PLDT due to the significant technological changes in the telecommunications industry. PECCI continuously grew and achieved the remarkable feat of being a “Billionaire Cooperative” in 2004. In 2012, PECCI successfully conducted its First Annual Representative Assembly (a transition from the General Assembly). In 2015, PECCI was transformed as the PLDT Employees Credit and Consumers Cooperative (but maintained the reference name PECCI for which it has been popularly known) to include in the range of its offerings the provision of consumer products and services to its members.

Achievements and Recognitions

In the years to follow, PECCI was bestowed and several awards and recognitions by the Makati Cooperative Council’s KoopBida Awards. In 2015, PECCI was awarded with the following: Best Performing Cooperative with Nationwide Concern for the Community, 2nd Place for Best Performing Cooperative in terms of Membership Growth, and 3rd Place for Best Performing Cooperative in terms of Growth in Total Asset. In 2018, PECCI received an award for Best Performing Cooperative with Nationwide Concern for the Community, 2nd Place for Best Performing Cooperative in terms of Membership Growth, and 3rd Place for Best Performing Cooperative in terms of Growth in Total Asset. In 2019, on its 60th year, PECCI again garnered three awards namely: 2nd Place for Best Performing Cooperative in terms of Asset Growth, 3rd Place for Best Performing Cooperative in terms of Membership Growth and a Special Award for Significant Concern for Community Nationwide.

In the 10th season of KoopBida Awards in 2021, PECCI received the following awards: 7th Place for the Most Compliant Cooperative, Best Performing Cooperative with CSR 2020 – 2021. It was also elevated to KoopBida’s Hall Fame Award, a feat given only to deserving cooperatives which are exemplary in terms of membership , assets, capital share build-up and community service.

In October 8, 2022, Asia’s Pinnacle Awards hailed PECCI MPC as “Asia’s Most Innovative and Outstanding Cooperative of the Year” in recognition of PECCI’s exemplary service and commitment to its members, community and the nation.

Commitment

The PECCI leadership is steadfast in its commitment to serve the members and stakeholders with strong adherence to good governance, integrity and honesty. With support from the membership, the Board of Directors envisions a PECCI that is strong, stable, progressive and renowned in the years to come.