“A strong cooperative does not grow alone; it grows by helping others become stronger.”

On September 15, 2026, the Koop Kapatid Partnership was formally strengthened through the signing of Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) between the Partner Cooperative and Beneficiary Cooperatives is in pursuant to CDA Memorandum Circular No. 2023-02.

Prior to the signing, Mr. Van Ian Enriquez, Sr. CDS of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), provided an orientation and discussion on the Koop Kapatid Program, highlighting its purpose of fostering cooperation, mentorship, knowledge sharing, and mutual support among cooperatives.

The partnership brings together the Bacarra Zanjera Irrigators Multipurpose Cooperative (BZIMPC) of Buyon, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, as the Partner Cooperative, represented by its Board of Directors Chairperson, Ms. Mency Tolentino, and the beneficiary cooperatives: Saguigui Multipurpose Cooperative (SMPC) of Saguigui, Pagudpud, represented by Chairperson Mr. Froilan Baltazar; Bacarra Municipal Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (BMEMPC), represented by Chairperson Ms. Joe Anne Viernes; and Tambidao Multipurpose Cooperative (TMPC) of Tambidao, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte represented by Chairperson Mr. Jose Antonio.

The Koop Kapatid initiative embodies the spirit of cooperation and the 7th Cooperative Principle, the Concern for Community, emphasizing the role of cooperatives in contributing to the sustainable development of the communities they serve.

Through this partnership, a strong and established cooperative share its knowledge, experience, and capabilities with beneficiary cooperatives, fostering organizational development, sustainability, and collective progress.

More than a formal agreement, Koop Kapatid is a commitment to solidarity and shared growth. Demonstrating that when cooperatives help one another become stronger, they also strengthen the communities they serve.

Together, cooperatives grow. Together, communities become stronger. (RRMedina, CDS II)