Twenty-nine (29) Coconut Farmers Cooperatives (CFCs) with a total of eighty-eight (88) participants from the Province of Agusan del Sur gathered together during the Capacity Building Training for Coconut Farmers Cooperatives (CFCs) entitled 3-day Entrepreneurial and Business Development Training & Cooperative Values and Principles Re-orientation. This was held at Arena Blanca Beach Resort, Brgy. Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur on May 14-16, 2025.

The event was opened with a heartfelt welcome message from our CDA Regional Director MONATAO HONEYA R. ALAWI, DPA. In her message, she expressed sincere gratitude to all cooperators who traveled from various municipalities of Agusan del Sur to attend the training. She further emphasized that this training or gathering reflected a strong sense of cooperation among cooperatives.

The training commenced with an atmosphere of positivity, fostering a welcoming spirit among all cooperative members. This enthusiasm was further reignited by the inspiring insights shared by the first speaker, former CDA Assistant Regional Director Ms. Sally Joy R. Bungabong, during her discussion on Re-Orientation on Cooperative Values and Principles.

Following the re-orientation session, the next speaker, Mr. Ronnel Victor Dela Cruz, took the stage with the goal of empowering Coconut Farmers Cooperatives (CFCs) through the Entrepreneurial and Business Development Training. His discussion centered on three key areas essential to cooperative success: knowledge, skills, and attitude.

The discussions covered key concepts such as Fundamentals of Enterprise Management, Financial Literacy, and Market Analysis. A series of workshops and an open forum were held to enhance entrepreneurial understanding and practical business planning. To put their knowledge into action, participants engaged in a hands-on workshop focused on drafting business plan.

To evaluate the personal competency level and overall status of each participant, a PECs Self-Rating Questionnaire was administered. Before their cooperatives undertake any specific activities, it is essential for them to identify their individual strengths and weaknesses in entrepreneurship.

As the training came to a close, participants move on to the Re-Entry Plan Workshop. Here, they finalized action plans to take back to their respective cooperatives. This session served refine the strategies learned and provided final opportunity to seek clarification from the speaker before implementation.