The Office of the Governor has asked the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to expedite the registration of the Negros Cooperative Bank that will cater to small Negrense farmers.

Nestor Bayona, a Capitol executive who heads the bank organizing committee, said he was instructed by Gov. Joseph Marañon to write the BSP Department of Supervision and Examination and inform them that the bank's incorporators are now ready for site validation.

Bayona, who is also the vice chairman of the 11-member interim board, told the DAILY STAR that the processing of their papers for registration was delayed by the reorganization in the BSP that caused the transfer of the officer who had been assigned to assist their group.

"We have all the papers ready and we are just waiting for the visit of the BSP representative. The investors are already restless," he said.

Bayona said the provincial government has committed to help cooperatives open the bank by allowing them free use of a Capitol-owned office facility.

He said the opening of the Negros Cooperative Bank is part of the foundation being laid down by Marañon to ensure food security in the province, by helping hog, rice and corn farmers.

"We want to make credit accessible to these small and medium farmers who cannot meet the requirements of other banks," he said.

The Negros Cooperative Bank has 47 cooperative-investors who have invested a total of P5,432,500. The BSP requires a paid-up capitalization P5 million.

The incorporators include Bayona, who represents the Kabuhayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Ramon Peñalosa, Negros Agricultural Entrepreneurs MPC; Essena Ramirez, La Castellana I Personnel MPC; Francisco Tolcidas, Federation of Cooperatives of Negros Occidental; Eduardo Ravena, Bacolod City Government MPC; Julian La 'O, ISEPI MPC of Sagay City; Juditho Aplaon, KASUCO Workers Agricultural Cooperative Inc.;

Lory Ploteña, Teachers and Employees MPC of Hinigaran I; Roy Cordova, CENECO Employees MPC; Clemente Estampador, Kabankalan-Ilog Teachers and Employees MPC; Alex Barrios, Sagay City Employees MPC; Ma. Pevi Tongson, Kusog Sg Kababainhan MPC; Reynaldo Bedaure Jr., Capitol Government Employees MPC; Edgardo Sarrosa, Farmers MPC; and Eduardo Monarca, Had. Malinong Employees MPC.*NLG

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