By: Niño Rosil C. Bantayan

The “kick-off” was held exactly on the 1^st day of October. Adhering to the newly approved Senate Bill 1807 otherwise known as the Cooperative Month Bill recognizing October as the “National Cooperative Month”. CDA Caraga Regional Office was joined by the Coop Sector via Zoom application platform in the celebration’s opening program. The event was initiated by the CDA Caraga Regional Office headed by the Regional Director Genaro D. Pogata, Jr. in coordination with the Regional Cooperative Development Council (RCDC) with Chairman Almar B. Autida and the rest of the Cooperative Development Councils from different provinces, municipalities and cities Caraga.

CDA Caraga Regional Office celebrates the cooperative month every year, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic the celebration was done on line (virtually) for the first time. The highlights of the program were the presentation of CDA Updates, the Video Messages and Greetings coming from different cooperatives all throughout Caraga, the presentation of the month-long activities of every province in celebration of the Cooperative Month, and the recognition of best practices through Bayanihan activities done by cooperatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the guests who delivered his solidarity message virtually was the Senate Committee Chair on Cooperatives, Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri. He put on the spotlight the efforts of the cooperative sector through Bayanihan Activities.

The global economy has been greatly affected by the pandemic and the coop sector as business entities are no exception. Despite the situation, the coop sector continues to support front-liners through provision of necessary protective equipment and medical supplies and supply of relief goods. In Caraga region, a total of 2. 075 members of the community benefited from 24 donor cooperatives in all 5 provinces and 1 city. The total amount utilized was P1,373,585.25 (1.3M) (see table 1 below for details).

Table 1. Cooperatives assisting frontline personnel/ clinics/ hospitals/ health facilities

There are also coops that gave cash assistance amounting to P85,479,050.00 to some 4,089 members of their communities (see table below for details).

Table 2. Cooperatives Extending/ providing assistance to members/communities (In Cash)

Some 69 coops have also distributed goods “in-kind” to a total of 5,775 members of the community amounting to P2,424,290.00 (see table below for details).

Table 3. Cooperatives Extending/ providing assistance to members/communities (In Kind)

Importantly, there are a total of 313 cooperators who rendered voluntary works in response to COVID-19 pandemic (see table below for details).

Table 4. Cooperatives Extending/ providing assistance to members/communities (voluntary works)

Indeed, as Senator Zubiri remarkably mentioned in his video message, cooperatives are “the government’s partner in helping Filipinos help themselves”. This unflinching spirit of community service, courage and resilience are cooperative values that give color and happiness to the celebration of this cooperative month.

Among the personalities who graced the event were CDA Chairman Orlando R. Ravanera and the Senate Committee Chair on Cooperatives Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri. ***NRCB