Some 3,700 members of Philippine co-ops gathered in Davao City on the country’s southern island of Mindanao for the three-day National Co-operative Summit, which is held every two years by sector body Philippine Cooperative Center (PPC).
With the theme of ‘Overcoming Challenges, Succeeding Together Under One Apex’ the aims of the summit, held on 3-5 October, were to unify the sector, empower small co-ops and promote integration, said PCC chair Gary Leonardo.
Admin Benjie Oliva, from the Philippine Co-operative Development Authority (CDA) welcomed the summit as way of forging stronger partnerships between co-operatives and both local and national governments.
He said there had been effective collaboration between the sector and co-op the Rodrigo Duterte administration, adding that substantial government funds had been available for poverty alleviation and inclusive development.
The country’s 27, co-ops, with more than 14 million members, had the capacity to supply products and services to the government, he said.
CDA chair Orlando Ravanera delivered a state of the sector address at the summit, and there were sessions on: the strategic direction of the Philippine co-operative movement; youth expectation and contribution to the co-op movement, and the creation of a Philippine co-operative apex.
