It continues to amaze us how aptly cooperatives responded and refused to be baffled by the Covid19 crisis and stubbornly persist in providing support to their members and their community.

More at point is the knowledge that while many of such initiatives were in close coordination with their respective local government units, there were few which were relentlessly pursued by some coops solo.

Looking into the positive effect of this crisis, it is noteworthy to mention that this pandemic has strengthened the cooperative leaders’ conviction and diligence in allocating and funding the required statutory funds, such as the Community Development Fund (CDF) and the Optional Fund (OF) which were specifically allowed to be utilized to reinforce prevention and control actions to support the government, and has provided ample working experience for them, as entrepreneurs, in pursuing business strategic and continuity plans.

On the part of coop members, admittedly, many were distraught, yet gained more confidence in their cooperatives’ strength and resilience during difficult times.

Remarkably, in only four (4) days, from April 6-8 and 13, 2020, the regional office documented twenty-five (25) activities undertaken by cooperatives in the region, as shown below.