The Ayala Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. has been recognized as the No. 1 cooperative among large-scale cooperatives during the 3rd Makati Koopbida Night and Awards held last October 20 at the Manila Peninsula.

Just as it celebrated its 19th anniversary during the month, the Coop garnered what could be the top plum in this year’s awards spearheaded by the Makati Coop Development Office by being adjudged as the most outstanding large-scale cooperative in terms of net worth.

The Ayala Coop actually registered a net worth of P1.32 billion as of the end of 2013, according to Coop figures, and that was enough to beat out long-time top coop and the much older PLDT Employees Credit Cooperative (PECCI), which placed second. Finishing third was the Philippine Navy Finance Center Credit Cooperative (PNFCC Coop).

The Ayala Coop actually has total assets now of P1.44 billion as of the same period.

The Coop also took one other major award, ranking fourth among the 10 outstanding coops in Makati in terms of membership expansion, a category where it finished at the top last year. But the buyout of former Ayala subsidiary Stream, a member-rich company, by business process outsourcing giant Convergys earlier this year deprived the Coop of its usual membership ranking.

The Makati Public Elementary School Principals Association Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MAKAPESPA MPC) took top honors this time in the category, followed by No. 2 DBP Cooperative Union and No. 3 Makati Savings Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

One other award – a special award as an active cooperative with significant social activities – was earned by the Ayala Coop along with coops from such companies as the DBP, Metro Manila Development Authority, Makati Medical Center, New World Hotel, Manila Peninsula, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and PLDT itself.

The Koopbida Awards is organized by the Makati Cooperative Development Council and is now on its third year. The MCDC is chaired by Vissia Marie Aldon, with Makati councilor Tosca Camille Puno-Ramos as vice chairperson for internal affairs and Federation of Makati Cooperatives chairman Eduardo Santiago as vice chairperson for external affairs. Danilo Villas, head of the city’s Department of Environmental Services, is the current OIC of the MCDC.

A total of 168 cooperatives is currently operating in the City of Makati, 129 in District I and 39 in District II.