Feeding a piggy bank or so called by many as “alkansya” has been part of the Filipino’s way of “saving for the future”. Most of these alkansya are made of bamboo or tin can materials and are being fed with coins or smaller bills until these become full and ready to be opened. Alkansya can help us reach our savings goal thru manageable or small amounts set aside every single time. The amounts are accumulated without us even noticing it. With this, purchases and emergency expenses seems much more achievable.

 Treasure Link Cooperative Society offers wide variety of programs and services to its members and prospect members. Bringing closer the services to its members and clients is the coop’s best way of serving the people. Account officers regularly visit members’ residences or establishments to collect their payments and deposits, distribute notices, or just to extend the coop’s best regards or “pakumusta” most especially in this pandemic times. Regardless, there are still members not served with due to reasons such as account officer’s visiting time did not coincide with the member’s availability.

 In this pandemic times, serving our members didn’t stop, instead, we came up with ways to do it the more. The cooperative established its area centers where payments, savings, application forms and inquiries are gathered and picked up. With area centers, we came up with a very effective scheme in support to the cooperative’s savings mobilization program. This is our TLCS ALKANSYA PROGRAM. 

The TLCS Alkansya program was one of the project commitment of Bontoc Branch Supervisor Mr. Frederick L. Sumeg-ang Jr. upon finishing up his coop PhDE course offered by Victo National Confederation under the Hilaga Class of 2019 where CEO, Shellan K. Addag was one of the assigned Mentors. Last June of 2020, with the height of the pandemic limiting travels and implementing skeletal workforce, the CEO pushed for piloting the project in the areas of Baguio and La Trinidad mandating the Branch Manager in Baguio with the help of La Trinidad Satellite Office OIC Mr. Allan D. Malong the deployment of 10 pieces alkansya made at the initiative of Account Officer Mr. Cleo Jess B. Cajigan. This was observed for the whole month of July 2020. Having seen to be effective and very much appreciated, Branch Manager Angeline D. Doyog of Baguio polished the Memorandum of Agreement in connection with BS Frederick L. Sumeg-ang Jr. and pushed through with the project in the whole areas of the cooperative. The project was also piloted at Tabuk, Kalinga area done by group then changed to individual alkansya boxes.

Truly, the Alkansya project made its way for implementation. Stretching the Cooperative Optional Fund, 1000 alkansiya boxes 4”x6” size made of aluminum materials was done by the TLCS Building employees as part time, the security guards and utility personnel. This project was very timely as it was fully implemented during the outbreak of this Covid-19 to minimize the personal contact with clients. Opening of Alkansya boxes was done by schedule of weekly and twice a month.

As of this January 31, 2021, we have already distributed a total of four hundred eighteen (418) alkansya boxes to different areas of coverage of Treasure Link. Along with the distribution of the alkansya is the Memorandum of Agreement signed by TLCS and the member-partner availing the alkansya boxes. The alkansya boxes are installed in identified areas such as selected member’s business area or residence where the member can drop his savings. The appointed account officer handling the area will then collect the contents of the alkansya on the agreed schedule, credit the same to the member’s identified accounts and issue an official receipt in return. The beneficiaries of these alkansya boxes would be able to set aside few coins for savings instead of diverting it to other non-essential goods like cigarettes. This program goes hand in hand with the partner-members of TLCS.

Below is the breakdown of alkansya box distributed by each office:

Name of Office	Number of Alkansya Distributed
Baguio	50
Main-Sagada	180
Besao	15
Tabuk	29
Bontoc	20
Bauko	20
Buguias	30
Mankayan	62
La Trinidad	12

This program helps change the attitude of members towards the act of saving such that it will be part of their normal routine. We are not only encouraging the young ones to save, but also showing their parents or adult ones the end result of doing such.  With the effect brought by the pandemic, TLCS recognizes and is reiterating to the members the need to be receptive and adaptive to the new normal thing. Securing amount of savings, thru our TLCS ALKANSYA, in preparation for any unexpected financial need/s is one among this new normal things.  Also, giving importance to this Filipino values-savings and thriftiness through the program is an effective step to personal financial success, as well as cooperative success. 

 

“By Zenialyn F. Falyao, Lab Coop Overseer and Airis-Jay M. Manuel, Administrative Officer”