In order to unify and promote all the cooperatives across the province, the Provincial Government of Bulacan, through its Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office (PCEDO), opened the month-long celebration of 2022 Cooperative and Enterprise Month on Saturday, Oct. 1.

The month-long celebration was launched through a Cooperative Parade Kickoff Ceremony and Kooplympics held at the Bulacan Sports Complex. Around 2,500 members and officers of different cooperatives in the province attended the event.

During the program, board member Allan Ray Baluyut, Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperatives, said the celebration will be a great opportunity to empower the members of cooperatives.

“Ito to po ay isa sa pagkakataon na iangat ang modelo ng negosyo ng kooperatiba bilang pinakamahusay na paraan upang bumuo ng ekonomiya na nagbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa lahat ng miyembro at indibidwal. Umaasa po ako na magiging matagumpay ang simula ng ating selebrasyon ng Buwan ng Kooperatiba ng ating lalawigan,” (This would be an opportunity to raise the model of the business of cooperatives as the best way to develop economy that gives an authority to all members and individuals. I hope the opening celebration of the Buwan ng Kooperatiba in our province will be successful)," Baluyut said.

Governor Daniel R. Fernando also encouraged huge organizations to form their own cooperatives and promote online platforms as a medium for starting small businesses.

“Isa ito sa layunin ng ating People's Agenda 10. Hinihikayat ko na po ngayon ang lahat ng malalaking organizations na maglagay ng kooperatiba sapagkat naniniwala po ako sa layunin ng ating former Governor Obet Pagdanganan na maiahon ang mga kalalawigan natin sa mga maliliit na pagnenegosyo. Lalo po ngayon mas kailangan ng coop; mas magagamit kasi po kahit dalawang libo o tatlong libo lang at mayroon kang puhunan ay makakapag o-online ka,” (This is one of the goals of our People's Agenda 10. I urge all the big organizations to put cooperative because I believe in the objective of former Governor Obet Pagdanganan to lift up our fellow residents in the province through small businesses. Especially now we need more coop; more useful even if you only have two thousand or three thousand, you could do online selling)," the governor said.

Fernando also led the oath taking of Provincial Cooperative Development Council (PCDC) officers along with former Governor Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan.

Vice-Governor Alexis C. Castro, Cooperative Development Authority Region 3 Regional Director Cristina H. Villamil, and Committee on Cooperative (Congress) Chairperson Nicanor B. Briones also attended the kickoff ceremony.

With the theme “Koopinas: Nagkakaisang Lakas Para Sa Makabuluhan At Sama-Samang Pag Unlad”, the month-long celebration will showcase various activities, including Cooperative Federations and Union’s Day on Oct. 7; Cooperative and Enterprise Trade Fair on Oct. 12-16; 9th Central Luzon Regional Kooplympics: Jungle Edition on Oct. 20; Cooperative Manager’s Day “Raising the Bar Towards Excellence” on Oct. 21; and 2022 Gawad Galing Kooperatiba Awarding Ceremony on Oct. 28.

The celebration will also be extended until November with the two-week-long celebration of the 2nd Bulacan Transport Service Cooperative Congress and 2nd Central Luzon Regional Tripartite Conference for Cooperative Development “Enhancing Policy, Regulatory Environment, and Partnership” on Nov. 23 to 25.

The celebration of Cooperative Month every October started in 1989 through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution 449.