Senator Cynthia Villar has acknowledged the significant role of cooperatives as partners of the government and private sector in curbing poverty.
“Nothing can equal the help of cooperatives in the growth of a community and small business and alleviating the lives of farmers and fishermen,” Villar said in a speech at the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives 11th Annual General Assembly and 2023 Educational Forum at Clark Marriott Hotel in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, said the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) “is our partner in creating cooperatives in the different industries in our country.”
“One of the distinct advantages of social enterprises and cooperatives is that they are more attuned and in touch with the needs of the poorer segments of the society,” she said.
“The wide geographical reach of micro small and medium enterprises including, social enterprises and cooperatives, in various regions and provinces make their impact more all-encompassing,” she added.
The senator also noted that cooperatives embody the “Bayanihan” spirit. To recognize the importance of cooperatives, she said the Villar SIPAG since 2013 has been awarding 20 cooperatives yearly wherein the winners are given a plaque and P250,000 each.
“Through this recognition, we hope to inspire and encourage cooperatives to continue with their work to uplift the lives of their communities,” she said. Macon Ramos-Araneta
This nationwide search for best coops, Villar said, is very thorough and tedious. “We receive hundreds of applications yearly, and only the best ones are chosen. We make sure that the initiatives of these community enterprises are outstanding models of good practices in income poverty reduction.”
The yearly Villar Sipag Awards aims to recognize good practices and innovations of community enterprises, which create jobs and increase household income, especially in vulnerable sectors.
It also highlights outstanding initiatives of community enterprises as models of good practices in poverty reduction.
Villar spoke before 390 cooperative leaders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, representing a total of 1.5 million coop members nationwide. Macon Ramos-Araneta