Last October 23-24, 2024, the Cordilleras successfully celebrated the culmination of the 2024 Regional Cooperative Month (RCM) Celebration held at the Benguet Sports Complex, Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet. Despite the threat posed by typhoon Kristine, more than 600 participants representing various cooperatives, local government units (LGUs), partner agencies, and other stakeholders attended to support this annual activity, which highlighted the achievements and feats of the cooperative sector.
The culminating activity was organized by the Cordillera Administrative Region Cooperative Development Council (CARCDC) through the leadership of Mr. Victor Luacan, in partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority-Cordillera Administrative Region Extension Office (CDA-CAR EO), under the guidance of OIC-Regional Director Felicidad R. Cenon, PhD.
The 2-day event commenced with a message by Benguet Board Member Joel B. Tingbaoen Jr., Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperatives and Civil Society Organizations. In his message, he emphasized the roles cooperatives perform in nation-building.
During the activity, OIC-Regional Director Cenon also presented statistics on the status of cooperatives in the region with respect to their CDA compliance, assets, and growth in number, among others. She also imparted relevant Memorandum Circulars from the Authority that need emphasis considering current trends and issues.
To enhance the capabilities of the participants as well as inform them of services that cooperatives can avail from other stakeholders in the economy, partners from the Department of Trade and Industry, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Security Bank, Cooperative Bank of Benguet, Small Business Corporation, and 1 CISP held orientations and promoted their products that can assist cooperatives in strengthening and improving their operations.
A Solidarity Night was hosted by the Provincial Local Government Unit of Benguet to promote camaraderie and unity among the participants. One of Cordillera’s best talents, Ms. Ingrid Payaket, serenaded the cooperative sector, further showcasing the gifts Cordillera has to offer.
This event also served as a venue for the CDA-CAR EO to recognize cooperatives that advanced to a higher category in terms of assets. Also, through the Credit Surety Fund (CSF) Section, the LGU-Baguio City and the provincial governments of Benguet and Ifugao were given recognition for their support of the CSF Program that aims to enhance financial inclusion among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives. In the same manner, the CDA Regional Gawad Parangal was awarded to the following in recognition of their contributions to the growth and development of the Cordillera Cooperative Sector:
- Local Chief Executive Category: LGU-Tabuk City
- Cooperative Development Officer (CDO) Category: Ms. Catherine Lee T. Uera, CDO of Tabuk City
- Academe Category: Benguet State University
- Media Category: DZRK Radyo Pilipinas 83.7 Tabuk
As a way to help other cooperatives enhance their operations and activities, representatives from the Besao Multipurpose Cooperative, Tabuk Multipurpose Cooperative, Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Benguet Electric Cooperative shared their respective best cooperative practices, which are mostly centered on social development for their respective target communities. This practice is embedded in the Cooperative Code, wherein a portion of the revenue of cooperatives are allocated for social development programs.
CDA’s Chairman Joseph B. Encabo and Administrator Assistant Secretary Santiago S. Lim attended the celebration through virtual platform. In their respective messages, the Chairman and the Administrator expressed their staunch support to the cooperative sector, emphasizing the Cooperative Month’s theme, “Cooperatives: Stronger Today for a Brighter Tomorrow.”
To cap off the activity, Ms. Michal Louise K. Cay-ohen, CARCDC Secretary and Executive Director of the Benguet Provincial Cooperative Union, outlined the RCM resolution suggesting for the DILG to include the appointment of CDOs as a criterion under the Seal of Good Local Governance for LGUs. – MEEM
*Photo credits to the Provincial Local Government Unit of Benguet
