The regional celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 brought together leaders, stakeholders, and cooperative members in an inspiring event that underscored the importance of solidarity, inclusivity, and shared progress. Held at the Kalinga Sports Center of Tabuk City, Bulanao, Kalinga last February 10, 2025, the occasion drew a diverse audience eager to recognize the vital role cooperatives play in fostering economic growth, social development, and community empowerment.

Governor James S. Edduba welcomed cooperative leaders and members, he also expressed his gratitude for selecting Kalinga as host for the regional event. In his speech, he mentioned the province’s strong cooperative movement as pillars of economic resilience. The governor emphasized that cooperatives have become a driving force in addressing economic inequality, creating jobs, and empowering marginalized sectors of society.

CDA Assistant Secretary Santiago S. Lim during his message expressed his gratitude to Governor Edduba and Tabuk City Mayor Darwin C. Estrañero for their unwavering support to cooperatives. He also thanked them for complying with RA 11535 for having full-fledged cooperative development officer in place.

He said that “Cooperatives in Kalinga province and Tabuk City is a force to be reckoned with”, with the statistics he has given, he said that cooperatives in Kalinga might be included in the Guinness book of world records as the province with the most cooperative members.

He also pointed out four (4) objectives for advancing the cooperative movement. He was inspired with the cooperative leaders in Kalinga who are mostly retired priests and so he came up with the acronym P-A-R-I, which means: Promoting cooperative growth to sustain cooperatives in the community; Advocating a supportive framework that would foster innovation and expansion; Raising awareness to increase public appreciation and shared responsibility to become successful; and Inspiring leadership to build a prosperous and cooperative-driven future.

Mayor Estrañero took the stage to highlight the importance of localized initiatives that bring cooperatives closer to the grassroots. The mayor shared successful cooperatives within the city which have not only boosted the local economy but also fostered a sense of camaraderie among members.

“Cooperatives are more than just economic institutions; they are families working toward shared goals. We need to strengthen these relationships by encouraging collaboration and innovation,” the mayor stated.

CDA CAR OIC Regional Director Felicidad R. Cenon presented cooperative data and the schedule of the upcoming activities of CDA and its partners. She also highlighted the increase in number of billionaire cooperatives in the region.

The IYC celebration also featured orientation of RA 11765, known as the Financial Products and Services Consumers Act which was presented by Senior CDS for Credit Surety Fund, Lotes P. Lab-oyan and simultaneous benchmarking activity to chosen cooperatives.

Certificates of appreciation were awarded to the Provincial Government of Kalinga for being the host province. The office of the Provincial Cooperative Enterprise Development Office, City Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office, City Cooperative Development Council of Tabuk and the Cooperative Managers for Development of Tabuk City were also awarded for being key partners in making the event a success.

The festivities of the International Year of Cooperatives in the region culminated in an inspiring Solidarity Night, where the cooperative spirit was truly brought to life through music, dance and awards.

A highlight of the evening was the awarding to cooperatives for the benchmarking activity, where cooperative partners were recognized for their commitment to excellence and their role in setting high standards for the cooperative sector. They were acknowledged for their efforts to push the boundaries of what cooperatives can achieve, setting positive example for others to follow.

This year’s celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives served as a testament to the power of collective action. By bridging the efforts of cooperatives, local governments, and the wider community, the region takes a significant step toward achieving economic equity and social empowerment.

The event not only honored the achievements of cooperatives but also inspired a renewed spirit of collaboration—proof that unity and shared purpose are at the heart of sustainable progress.