DAVAO CITY – More than two hundred peoplegathered last May 17, 2012 at Grand Men Seng Hotel, Davao City in the first ever National Muslim and Indigenous People’s Cooperative Summit. The Summit brought together the Cooperative Leaders among Muslims and Indigenous People. They pounded issues and concerns affecting their cooperatives as marginalized sectors of the community and explored opportunities for them to look into the national programs of the government where they can become catalyst of societal transformation.
CDA Administrator Paisalin P. Tago welcomed all the participants and cited the significance of the event. Secretary Mehol K. Sadain of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and Congressman Isidro Q. Lico of ATINGKOOP Partylist likewise graced the occasion and said their respective pieces of solidarity messages. Acting Executive Director Mr.Orlando R. Ravanera, presented the CDA’s 3-point agenda and shared the 3 zones of transformation, and the Philippine Cooperative Medium Term Plan.
The participants after gaining insights and hindsight from the inputs and the presentation of Director Ravanera, had drawn up an action plan for the sectors and the community they are representing in this summit. Such action plan, as the output of the event, is intended to be submitted to concerned government offices, Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and the private sectors for their possible developmental intervention geared towards the realization of the overall objectives of the activity. This will be hasten with the concomitant support of CDA’s Regional Directors who attended the Summit.
Chairman Emmanuel M. Santiaguel on the other hand gave a message of support and encouragement to all those present while ARMM CDA undersecretary Pendatun B. Disimban and
Dir. AleemSiddiquiGuiapal from Bureau of Muslim Economic Affairs talked aboutDetermining the Muslims and Indigenous Peoples Priorities for Improving Cooperative Management and Development. Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv S. Hataman who gave his unequivocal support to the cooperatives and expressed belief that cooperatives will play a crucial role in improving the quality of life of the people.
CDA top officials – Administrators Nelon B. Alindogan and Felicitas S. Acosido and Department Directors of CDA Central office also attended the Summit as a gesture of support to the cause of the marginalized sectors.
Special recognition were given to the Hon. Hataman through the Officeof the Regional Governor (ARMM) and Secretary Teresita Deles representing Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP), for their financial support to CDA that helped achieved the success of the Summit.
The Summit produced a declaration or manifesto. – CRITD
