With the Presidential directives on strengthening agriculture as the key sector of the Philippine economy, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and the Agricultural Cluster have formulated a framework for the development of agricultural cooperatives to enable them to contribute to food security and promote a resilient and sustainable ecosystem, significantly enhancing their growth and empowering them to play a vital role in ensuring food security. Asec. Virgilio R. Lazaga, the CDA Board member and head of the Agriculture Cooperatives Cluster was not able to attend the meeting because of an equally important commitment in Davao City, however, his Executive Assistant Ms. Elvira Espejo Pasagui was able to interact with the agriculture cooperatives, presented and highlighted the said framework on his behalf. She also emphasized the importance of partnerships and collaboration with government agencies and other stakeholders in the implementation of programs, projects, and activities towards strengthening agriculture cooperatives.
One of the highlights of the activity was the election of the new set of officers to represent in the Sectoral Apex Organization (SAO) election. A total of eighty-five (85) participants cooperatives have participated and attended in the blended convergence. The following are the newly elected officers of Agricultural Coops Cluster:
| ELECTED OFFICERS – 2024 | ||
| POSITION | NAME OF OFFICERS ELECTED | COOP REPRESENTED |
| President | ENGR. RICO C. BADILLA | KABANGASAN-MAPUA-DAHILIG ARC COOPERATIVE (KAMADA ARC COOP) |
| Vice-President | NARCISO PAITAN | MINDANAO COOPERATIVE TRADES AND INDUSTRIES |
| Secretary | ENGR. ANSELMO ECONG,JR. | MISAMIS FARMERS MPC |
| Treasurer | RODULFO YANA | NORTHERN MINDANAO FEDERATION OF DAIRY COOPS (NMFDC) |
| ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE – 2024 | ||
| PROVINCE | NAME OF OFFICERS ELECTED | COOP REPRESENTED |
| Bukidnon | XANDRIX JADMAN | DMPI EMPLOYEES ARB COOPERATIVE (DEARBC) |
| Camiguin | NONE | |
| Lanao del Norte | JOSEPH A.ABALORIO | REBE MPC |
| Misamis Occidental | NONE | |
| Misamis Oriental | GENEVIEVE CABABAROS | DOALNARA RESTORATION SOCIETY PHI. PMC |
| Cagayan de oro City | PERFECTO SALIGA,JR. | PALALAN CARP FARMERS MPC |
| Iligan City | FLAVIANO C. CABASA | SIKYOP AGRICULTURE COOP |
| ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE PER TYPE | ||
| TYPE | NAME OF ELECTED OFFICER | COOP REPRESENTED |
| AGRARIAN | CRESLINO G. BAGARES | FIRST AGRARIAN REFORM MPC ( FARM COOP) |
| AGRICULTURE | RANDY JHON UY | BALUGTO HOPES AGRICULTURE COOPERATIVE |
| FARMERS | EDIVER JOY V. BUAYAN | MINDULAO FARMERS ARC COOP |
| DAIRY | NONE | |
| FISHERFOLK | NONE | |
| AQUACULTURE | NONE | |
Considering the limited time and internet connectivity problems encountered by some cooperatives participating online, the oath-taking of the newly elected officers of the Agricultural Cluster was facilitated and administered by Asec. Pendatun Disimban, the head of the Consumers, Marketing, Producers, and Logistics (CMPL) during their Cooperatives Leaders’ Conference and Elections of Officers on May 3, 2024, at Country Village Hotel & Resort in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.
