In celebration of the International Day of Cooperatives, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Regional Office III spearheaded a collaborative Arbor Day tree-planting initiative at the Sta. Rita Eco Park to embody the 7th Cooperative Principle, “Concern for Community.”

By pooling resources and expertise, the CDA united a strong network of government partners, including the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Pampanga, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, and the LGUs of Sta. Rita, Arayat, and Florida to champion environmental resilience, protect local watersheds, and support sustainable agriculture.

The backbone of this environmental effort was the enthusiastic participation of Pampanga’s cooperative sector, heavily led by Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) and agricultural cooperatives, alongside community and transport cooperatives. Ultimately, this successful inter-agency and inter-cooperative coordination sent a powerful message that the cooperative movement transcends economic empowerment, working actively as a unified front to secure a sustainable, thriving ecosystem for future generations.

The following Cooperatives championed the agricultural effort:

• Dampe Multipurpose Cooperative

• Bambang Multipurpose Cooperative

• Sulong San Nicolas Multipurpose Cooperative

• Paroba Matamo Agriculture Cooperative

• Culubasa Farmers Agriculture Cooperative

• Sta Monica Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative

• Farmers and Community Multipurpose Cooperative

• Sta. Ana Marketing Multipurpose Cooperative

• United Seed Growers of Pampanga Agriculture Cooperative

• Dila Dila Transport Cooperative

• Golden Group Gabay Puhunan Multipurpose Cooperative

• St. James the Apostle Multipurpose Cooperative

• DHVSU Multipurpose Cooperative

• Save and Serve Multipurpose Cooperative

By aligning the Arbor Day tree-planting with the International Day of Cooperatives, CDA R3 and its partners sent a clear message: the cooperative movement is about more than just economic empowerment; it is fundamentally about securing a sustainable, thriving environment for future generations.

As these newly planted trees take root and grow across Sta. Rita Eco Park will serve as a living, enduring testament to the power of inter-agency coordination and the unbreakable spirit of the cooperative movement.