VICE-Gov. Dionisio Victor A. Balite challenged cooperatives to extend help to farmers and others in the society mainly for food security and climate change.
“Mao ni akong challenge ka ninyo, labi na aning climate change ug food security. Asa ta dapit mo sulod sa atong pagtabang sa mga mag-uuma ug uban pa sa atong katilingban?” said Vice Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite.
The vice-governor’s issued the statement as his inspirational message at the opening rites on October 2 at the New Capitol Building in the celebration of cooperative month.
This year’s celebration hopes to persuade more cooperatives to work jointly with the national government’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the impending climate crisis and its impact on the livelihoods, resources, and necessities of Filipinos.
He repeatedly told every gathering he is into that every person could help the farmers, like for instance, to eat just enough rice in your place and not waste it. Consume every cooked rice you take or put in your plate. And instead of full cup of cooked rice placed in your platter, take a half of it to save, he explained.
Another thing is that he urged everyone to plant and grow trees. To show his concern on the environment, he initiated tree planting in Valencia, his hometown, where his brother Dionisio Neil Balite is the mayor.
Amid the challenges of the climate crisis, this year’s theme is “Cooperatives: Pioneering the Path to Recovery Amidst Modern Challenges of Climate Change and Food Security.”
This year’s celebration kicked off with a motorcade from the Tagbilaran City Hall to the New Capitol Building participated by 34 cooperatives from all over the province.
The festivities officially opened with a holy mass and a program led by the provincial government in partnership with Tagbilaran City.
Board Member Lucille Lagunay, chairperson of the Provincial Cooperative Development Council, welcomed the 256 attendees.
She stressed the importance of cooperatives in the development of the province, specifically in creating economic growth.
Lagunay said she hopes to see cooperatives help out other people in their communities by providing opportunities to earn income.
“Sa atong pag join sa coop, it’s not just about accumulating wealth. It’s about using it wisely to uplift, dili lang ang members, but the communities we are part of,” said Lagunay.
Also present during the event were Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap and provincial government Oscar Valles, who represented Gov. Aris Aumentado.
The guests declared support for the 683 existing cooperatives in their endeavors, especially in mitigating poverty and creating a robust economic activity in the province.
Valles, who relayed Aumentado’s solidarity message, encouraged more cooperatives to comply with the Cooperative Development Authority’s cooperative pro-forma registration documents requirements for them to operate legally.
In the afternoon, a cooperative trade showcase was launched at the Carlos P. Garcia Park with 18 cooperatives displaying various products, ranging from fresh produce to handicrafts.
This showcase, which runs from Oct. 2-13, aims to present the various commodities that local cooperatives can offer to general public.
The activity opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony graced by Ma. Conrada Fuentes, Provincial Cooperative Development Office (PCDO) head, executive assistant for the National Task Force to End Local Community Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Romeo Teruel, PCDO Project Development Officer Clovis Llorente, and the cooperative members participating in the showcase.
Also lined up are seminars on governance and management with fundamentals of coops activity on Oct. 11-12 hosted by Calape for the first district, Oct. 18-19 by Trinidad for the second district, and Oct. 25-26 by Garcia Hernandez for the third district.
The month-long celebration will culminate with a closing program on Oct. 27 at the Bohol Cultural Center in Tagbilaran City.
Under RA No. 11502, the National Cooperative Month is celebrated in October yearly to pay tribute to cooperatives and their contributions to national development. (w/ inputs from PIMO/GMC)
