Autonomy and Independence. It is one of the most treasured principle in every co-op. I wrote about that previously. It is granted to them so that they can have the freedom to chart their own course and fulfill their destiny. As long as they operate within legal bounds and conduct themselves according to acceptable co-op principles, they will be just fine. With our campaign for regional autonomy, I would like to make another discussion on autonomy in co-ops. May we find some similarities and ignite interests for more talking points. Hopefully.
One of the objectives of autonomy in co-ops is people empowerment and co-op members are taught to become self-reliant. The idea is that, if we come together, we can do something productive and we can achieve our objectives on our own efforts and initiative. It is supposed to contradict the idea that we are helpless and dependent on others for our survival. With autonomy, we can achieve greatness. Self-reliance is about helping our own selves in order to achieve something and not wait for others for support and sustenance.
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Just like the first People Power in EDSA, co-ops can make things happen and have what they want. If people come together with a common objective, they will become a force. They can be somebody. They can make a difference and even change the course of their lives. That is what we are trying to inject in every aspiring co-op. Of course, co-operativism is not something that is without defect. Not all co-ops succeed. They experience problems of various kinds and in different degrees just like any other business entity. Most of the time however, it is the people in charge that fails not the co-op itself.
When people organize themselves into a co-op with the only objective of availing grants and donations from the government, politicians and from other generous donors, most of them fail. They are doomed from the start. It runs counter to the objectives of autonomy. Co-ops are supposed to be organized to achieve something bigger than themselves, more than just the fulfillment of their immediate needs. It is about attaining their social and cultural needs not just their economic needs. It is more than whatever financial assistance that others will give.
Autonomy is given because the co-op and their members know themselves better, what they need and they know what to do to make themselves into somebody. That is why organizing a co-op must come from the people themselves. It is a collective endeavor coming from within themselves to find their place in this world. To take hold of that big budget as a form of assistance form the government is not the objective but just the effect of organizing the co-op.
Since Autonomy in co-op is people empowerment, it is an opportunity to develop or bring out homegrown leaders that will steer the co-op to greater heights. Good leaders are those that generate success in the co-op. Leaders that are familiar with the conditions of the people, not an outsider who is not aware of the deep-rooted sentiments and cultural uniqueness of the group. Leadership in co-op is not the political kind. That is why politicians do not have room inside the co-op. If they intervene in co-op affairs, it destroys the autonomous state of the co-op.
That is what we need right now. Leaders who are not politicians and are acceptable to all tribes and sub-tribes in these mountains. What we have right now are politicians who are even tentative on their stand on the issue. I hope they are talking about this issue among themselves.
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