BGHMCEPMC (The Merger)

The BGHMC Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Credit Cooperative are two separate cooperatives operating within the same institution, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center located in Baguio City.

The BGHE Cooperative Store and Credit Cooperative were originally registered under the Bureau of Cooperative Development (BCOD) in 1962 and 1965 respectively. The main function of the Cooperative Store was to extend low-cost goods and operate the canteen for BGH employees, patients and visitors. The Credit Union’s main function was to extend low-cost loans to member employees and to uplift the employees’ standard of living.

As the cooperative store had been operating progressively, the directors thought of diversifying into other consumer goods and additional services not given by the cooperative store which resulted into the creation of a Multi-Purpose
Cooperative. In 1994, the BGHE Cooperative Store, Inc. was changed to Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center Employees’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative and both Multi-Purpose and Credit Cooperative were re- registered at CDA. With the steady finances of the Multi-Purpose, even petty cash loans were given in 1996.

With this diversification, the idea of merger was presented to the Board of Directors of both Cooperatives. During the 1997 general assembly, after a thorough presentation and discussion of the advantages of the merger and through an extensive seminar plan, the members approved the merger.

The merger was formalized and registered with the CDA on September 16, 1998 under the name BAGUIO GENERAL HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER EMPLOYEES’ MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE (BGHMCEMPC).