LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government recognized the top performing cooperatives that contributed in the sustained growth of the town’s economy amidst the negative impact that was inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2023 Gawad Parangal for cooperatives held at the municipal gymnasium.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda, Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan, Councilor Francis Lee and regional director lawyer Franco Bawang, Jr. of the Cordillera office of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA-CAR) led in the awarding of the recognitions to the deserving cooperatives that are operating in the municipality.
The Benguet State University (BSU) and Community Multipurpose Cooperative was conferred the Hall of Fame Ward for having been consistently recognized as the top performing large cooperative in the municipality over the past several years. It was also recognized for being the billionaire cooperative operating in the locality over the past several years.
For the large cooperatives, the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post Multipurpose Cooperative garnered first place closely followed by the Benguet government Employees Multipurpose Cooperative and the Baguio Trinidad Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association Multipurpose Cooperative.
The La Trinidad-based Agawa Multipurpose Cooperative was adjudged the top medium cooperative followed by the Bokod Sulfur Multipurpose Cooperative–La Trinidad branch and the BPIO Employees Multipurpose Cooperative.
In the small cooperative category, barangay Alapang Multipurpose Cooperative placed first during the awarding ceremony.
Among the finalists in the various categories include La Trinidad Municipal Employees Multipurpose Cooperative, Treasurer Link Cooperative Society, Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multipurpose Cooperative, La Trinidad Orchidarium Multipurpose Cooperative and the Universal Multipurpose Cooperative.
Special awards were also given out to the La Trinidad Orchidarium Multipurpose Cooperative for its outstanding community involvement and development program in the municipality; La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post Multipurpose Cooperative for its excellence in membership growth and expansion program; Universal Multipurpose Cooperative for its excellence in membership growth and expansion program; Barangay Alapang Multipurpose Cooperative for its remarkable cooperative solidarity and partnership program that led to the increase in its assets; La Trinidad Municipal Employees Multipurpose Cooperative for its excellence in providing financial products and services to its members and BSU and Community Multipurpose Cooperative for bagging the Hall of Fame award by continuously reaping the top spot as the Most Outstanding Cooperative in the municipality and for its outstanding gender and development program resulting to a gender responsive cooperative.
The local government also recognized its partners for the successful implementation of programs, projects and activities for the advancement of cooperatives such as the CDA-CAR, the CAR Cooperative Union and the Benguet Provincial Cooperative Union.
The annual Gawad Parangal for cooperatives is an institutionalized activity of the municipal government to give recognition to the important role played by cooperatives in the town’s sustained economic growth through the years. By Dexter A. See
