In the Philippines, cooperatives have been seen as an instrument in promoting inclusive growth, especially in rural areas.
Not only can cooperatives pool more resources and enable easier access to financial institutions, coops can also enforce the sense of community and responsibility among its members, pushing them to work together towards their common goals.
As the Philippines celebrates National Cooperative Month this October, the city government of San Pedro, Laguna aimed to emphasize the vital role of these cooperatives in the city’s economic progress.
Last October 23, the LGU, through the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO) and various cooperatives and civil society organizations participated in the Sampaguita planting and clean-up drives in Barangay San Vicente in line with the celebration of National Cooperative Month.
With the theme, “Cooperative: Pioneering the Path to Recovery Amidst Modern Challenges of Climate Change and Food Security”, this year’s celebration of National Cooperative Month emphasizes the cooperatives' vital role in addressing contemporary global challenges.
“Their collaborative and community-oriented approach is instrumental in fostering recovery and building a more secure and environmentally sustainable future,” the city government said in a social media post.
Sampaguita revival
As part of the activities, organizers have included sampaguita planting. OpinYon Laguna asked the CCLDO if cooperatives have been formed among the city’s sampaguita growers and dealers, as part of the LGU’s efforts to revive the city’s former traditional industry.
“Sa kasalukuyan, wala pa pong nabubuong kooperatiba ang mga magsasampaguita. Ngunit atin po silang hinihikayat na magbuo na sila ng kooperatiba,” Rochelle Carino, head of the CCLDO, replied.
To further encourage the revival of the sampaguita industry, the CCLDO has continued to provide financial assistance to the over 100 workers in the sampaguita industry, she added.
Aside from financial assistance and grants, the city government has also been active in providing other services to the city’s cooperatives, Carino told OpinYon Laguna.
“Tayo po ay nangangasiwa sa mga kailangan nilang mga seminar at training para sa kanilang kooperatiba, gayundin ang taon-taong pagbibigay ng subsidies upang mapalakas pa lalo ang kanilang hanap-buhay,” she said.
“Ang CCLDO rin po ay taon-taong nakikilahok sa pagdiriwang ng National Cooperative Month na ang layunin ay isulong ang mga prinsipyo, kahalagahan, at pagpapatakbo ng kooperatiba,” the CCLDO head added.
-o0o-
PHOTO CAPTION: Members of cooperatives and civil organizations participate in the Sampaguita-planting activity hosted by the city government of San Pedro, Laguna, through the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO), in Barangay San Vicente last October 23. The activity is part of the celebration of National Cooperative Month, which aims to emphasize the vital role of these cooperatives in the city’s economic progress. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SAN PEDRO CITY PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION OFFICE
#OpinYonLaguna #SanPedro #Cooperatives #NationalCooperativeMonth #CCLDO #SampaguitaRevival #Sampaguita #OpinYon #WeTakeAStand