A Foundation of Compassion and Service

The Legacy of Mother Rita Barcelo y Pages

Born in Spain, Mother Rita Barcelo y Pages was a devoted member of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters, whose mission of service brought her to the Philippines. In the midst of the cholera pandemic of 1882, she became a beacon of hope and compassion.

During this devastating outbreak, Mother Rita led her Sisters in caring for the sick, providing food, medical assistance, and spiritual comfort to the afflicted. Her unwavering dedication in the face of such adversity cemented her reputation as a selfless leader committed to serving the most vulnerable.

The Mother Rita Multipurpose Cooperative draws its inspiration from her mission during this pandemic. Founded on her values of compassion and service, the cooperative aims to support its members through financial aid, livelihood programs, and community services—continuing her legacy of empowering and uplifting communities in times of crisis.

In 1991, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo unleashed torrents of lahar, bringing hardship and uncertainty to the people of Zambales and nearby provinces. What once seemed like a destructive force eventually revealed its hidden value. Lahar became a vital resource for construction, agriculture, and craftsmanship, transforming the landscape into one of opportunity and growth.

From Ashes to Abundance: A Cooperative's Journey

Mother Rita Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) is like the lahar—initially overlooked but now a cornerstone of strength and resilience in Zambales and beyond. Just as lahar enriched the land, Mother Rita MPC enriches the lives of its members, cultivating a community where resources and opportunities flourish.

Mother Rita MPC was formally registered on February 18, 1992 with the Cooperative Development Authority as a Multi-Purpose Cooperative headed by Mother Leontina Castillo, OSA and the Augustinian Sisters of our Lady of Consolation sent to Candelaria, Zambales for a mission. The Earlier members of the COOP were the victims of Mt. Pinatubo eruption who fled from Olongapo to San Narsiso who decided to settle in the Mother Rita Resettlement Area, Barangay Yamot, Candelaria, Zambales. Over time, membership has increased from the towns of Candelaria, Masinloc and Sta. Cruz. January 16, 2008, Nagbunga Branch was opened in Northern Zambales to spread throughout the province the “Vision” and “Mission” of Mother Rita MPC.

Currently, Mother Rita MPC is registered under the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) with the registration number 9520-03002384. The Main Office Building is located at Lauis, Candelaria, Zambales, the Branch Offices in San Guillermo, San Marcelino, Zambales, Palanginan, Iba Zambales and its satellite offices in Sta. Cruz, Masinloc, and Cabangan, Zambales in order to strengthen and spread the spirit of COOPERATIVISM.

KEY FINANCIAL & NON FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

as of June 2024

TOTAL ASSETS

TOTAL NET LOANS

TOTAL MEMBERS SAVINGS

TOTAL MEMBERS SHARE

BRANCHES

SATELLITE OFFICES

TOTAL MEMBERS (REGULAR and ASSOCIATE)

TOTAL MEMBERS (LABORATORY COOPERATIVE)

- ₱ 473 Million

- ₱ 334 Million

- ₱ 231 Million

- ₱ 94 Million

- 3 Branches

- 3 Satellite Offices

- 10,016

- 3,750

CLASSIFICATION

Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Large Cooperative in Terms of Asset Size

Medium in Terms of Number of Employees

MISSION

Guided by the life and virtues of Mother Rita and inspired by the presence of the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation, we commit ourselves to improving the lives of members and communities by providing quality financial and allied services.

VISION

The most sustainable and trusted cooperative of financially resilient and empowered members.

SHARED VALUES

With the Guidance of the Almighty, we strongly believe in the values of; Integrity; Self-Help; and Self-Responsibility; Mutual Interdependence; Transparency; and Responsible Stewardship.

The Cooperative is organized to engage in:

Thrift and Savings Mobilization among members thru the Member – Savings Operation Program;
Generation of funds and provide financial assistance to members for production and provident purposes thru the Credit and Lending Program with primary focus on Small Farmers and Fisherfolks (SFF);
Acquisition of land(s) and provision of housing, boarding house/dormitory, space rentals, memorial gardens and related services, recreational facilities, eco-parks/tourism spots and other related benefits for the members; and
To organize and operate schools in accordance with RA 9155, Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001 and Skills Training and Assessment Center (RA7796 TESDA Act of 1994) in partnership with Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
To operate consumer store and general merchandise in relation to Agri-fishery production of our Members and partnership with related government agencies;
To advance the competitiveness and innovativeness of the industry such as adoption of web-based technology and innovation on product/service delivery like ATM, POS, Western Union, Mobile Banking, Kaya Payment Platform and others.