Believing in partnership and collaborative mechanisms, Atty. Raymundo B. Bautista Jr., Municipal Administrator of LGU Bayambang, Pangasinan, as Chairman of Civil Society Organizations and Cooperatives, initiated the Koop Kapatid Program orientation to participating cooperatives through the assistance of the  Cooperative Development Authority – Regional Office last June 17, 2021. There were five cooperative presents namely: Mangabul Seed Growers Marketing Cooperative, with principal office at Pantol, Bayambang, Pangasinan, registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on September 19, 2016, Bayambang LGU Employees Consumers Cooperative, with principal office at Rizal Hall, Balon Bayambang Events Center, Roxas St., Zone-II, Bayambang, Pangasinan, registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on December 13, 2017, Rancheros de Balon Bayambang Agriculture Cooperative, with principal office at 30 Sitio Pacak, Carungay, Bayambang, Pangasinan, registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on October 2, 2020, Barangay Asin Women’s Agriculture Cooperative, with principal office at Asin, Bayambang, Pangasinan, registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on February 15, 2021, and Radiant Dragon Grand Society Consumers Cooperative, with principal office at Lot 19 & 20, Block 6 Teacher’s Village, Zone VII (Pob.), Bayambang, Pangasinan, registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on November 9, 2020.

As stated in Article II, Section 9 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies, adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living and improved quality life for all. Moreover, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 11364 states: The State also recognizes the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as primarily responsible for cooperatives’ institutional development and regulation through a partnership with the cooperative sector.

Accordingly, the State recognizes the right of cooperatives to initiate and foster within their ranks cooperative promotion, organization, training, information gathering, audit, and support services with government assistance where necessary.

The LGU Bayambang launched the Koop Kapatid Program under the guidance of the Cooperative Development Authority.    In this Program, the operating medium and large cooperatives with the capacity and willingness to participate will be Big Brother Cooperative/partner-cooperative and extend assistance to its Small Brother Cooperative/beneficiary-cooperative or micro and small cooperatives that have expressed willingness to be assisted by the partner-cooperative.

After the orientation, the Memorandum of Agreement signing took place with 2 Big Brothers, Bayambang LGU Employees Consumers cooperative assisting Small Brother Radiant Dragon Grand Society Consumers Cooperative; Big Brother – Mangabul Seed Growers Marketing Cooperative assisting Small Brothers: Rancheros de Balon Bayambang Agriculture Cooperative and Barangay Asin Women’s Agriculture cooperative. Dr. Cesar T. Quiambao, LGU Bayambang Municipal Mayor, and Atty. Raymundo B. Bautista Jr., the Municipal Administrator, witnessed the MOA signing.

The Koop Kapatid program aims to improve cooperatives’ management, governance, and business operations through technical, financial, or other forms of assistance. Through this program, the small brother cooperatives will keep them more resilient with the help of big brother cooperatives. Leading the activity was the Regional Director of CDA Regional Office I, Dr. Josefina B. Bitonio, and Municipal Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao articulated the benefits of establishing cooperatives. Chief Jacqueline De Leon and Ms. Arlenne C. Espinosa, CDS-II, coordinated the MOA signing.

We cannot ignore the critical role of cooperatives in the actual development of the country. The formation, revitalization, and improvement of cooperatives are the key to revitalize our country’s economy, especially in this contemporary era where the whole world is facing severe problems, mainly the scourge caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because cooperatives, which serve as special economic units, are based on cooperation, self-reliance, and collective participation. Cooperation is the foundation of every cooperative. This is the engine that drives the overall trend of each cooperative. And this is what we need to learn to grow as a society undergoing healing from the disease caused by the unseen virus (Sheryl Lou M. Fabia CDS-II).