Cynthia Villar: Cooperatives help fight poverty
Published Jul 9, 2023 07:10 am
Senate Committee on Agriculture chairperson Sen. Cynthia Villar has acknowledged the significant role of cooperatives as the government and private sector's partners to curb poverty.
Sen. Cynthia Villar addresses cooperatives during the opening of the 11th Annual General Assembly and 2023 Educational Forum of the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives at Marriott Hotel in Clark Mabalacat, Pampanga on July 6. (Photo contributed by O/S Cynthia Villar)
Villar pointed this out during the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives 11th Annual General Assembly and 2023 Educational Forum at Clark Marriott Hotel in Mabalacat, Pampanga. “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 during her speech. Villar cited the role of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as the partner in creating cooperatives in the different industries in the Philippines. "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,” the senator 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. Moreover, she said cooperatives embody the Filipino “Bayanihan" spirit. As part of their efforts to recognize the importance of cooperatives, the senator said the Villar SIPAG, since 2013, has been awarding 20 cooperatives yearly wherein the winners are given a plaque and P250,000 each. The Awards, she said, aims to recognize good practices and innovations of community enterprises, which create jobs and increase household income especially in vulnerable sectors. According to Villar, the nationwide search for the best coops is “very thorough and tedious.” “(But) through this recognition, we hope to inspire and encourage cooperatives to continue with their work to uplift the lives of their communities," she said. "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 lawmaker also said. At least 390 cooperative leaders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, attended the credit cooperatives’ general assembly, representing a total of 1.5 million coop members nationwide.
Sen. Cynthia Villar addresses cooperatives during the opening of the 11th Annual General Assembly and 2023 Educational Forum of the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives at Marriott Hotel in Clark Mabalacat, Pampanga on July 6. (Photo contributed by O/S Cynthia Villar)
Villar pointed this out during the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives 11th Annual General Assembly and 2023 Educational Forum at Clark Marriott Hotel in Mabalacat, Pampanga. “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 during her speech. Villar cited the role of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as the partner in creating cooperatives in the different industries in the Philippines. "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,” the senator 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. Moreover, she said cooperatives embody the Filipino “Bayanihan" spirit. As part of their efforts to recognize the importance of cooperatives, the senator said the Villar SIPAG, since 2013, has been awarding 20 cooperatives yearly wherein the winners are given a plaque and P250,000 each. The Awards, she said, aims to recognize good practices and innovations of community enterprises, which create jobs and increase household income especially in vulnerable sectors. According to Villar, the nationwide search for the best coops is “very thorough and tedious.” “(But) through this recognition, we hope to inspire and encourage cooperatives to continue with their work to uplift the lives of their communities," she said. "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 lawmaker also said. At least 390 cooperative leaders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, attended the credit cooperatives’ general assembly, representing a total of 1.5 million coop members nationwide.