LUNA, Apayao – A ceremonial signing event was held for the donation of a 2,000-square meter parcel of land for the establishment of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) office in San Gregorio, Luna, Apayao.
The land was donated by the municipal government through the facilitation of Mayor Josephine Bangsil.
The Deed of Donation was formally signed by Undersecretary Joseph “Joy” Ballota Encabo, Chairman of the CDA, Vice Governor Remy Albano, Atty. Franco Bawang, Jr., Regional Director of CDA, and Hon. Josephine Bangsil, Municipal Mayor of Luna.
Said event was witnessed by Sean Ray Ortañez, Cooperative Development Specialist of CDA Apayao, Lotes Lab-oyan, Senior CDS, and members of various cooperatives, including the Apayao Livestock Agriculture Cooperative, Timpuyog ti Pudtol MPC, Cassigaman Agriculture Cooperative, Malayugan Farmers Agriculture Cooperative, People for Rural Empowerment Agri Coop, Lenneng Indigenous Farmers Agri Coop, Apayao Seed Growers MPC, Flora Multipurpose Cooperative, Flora Rice Cluster Agriculture Cooperative, Ob-Obbo Farmers Agriculture Cooperative, Cajoma ARBs MPC, Calanasan LGU Employees MPC, Apayao Vegetable Seed Growers MPC, Calayucay Agriculture Cooperative, Tanglagan MPC, and Forward Better Imelda Agri Cooperative.
During his speech, Usec. Encabo encouraged the cooperatives to fulfill their responsibilities as members and assured them of additional funding if they consolidated their efforts with other cooperatives. He challenged the cooperatives to unite, particularly in their agricultural engagements, promising an additional PhP500,000 in Credit Surety Fund if three cooperatives consolidated.
He further emphasized that the purpose of consolidation is to provide a framework for the union of existing cooperatives to form new ones or for one cooperative to absorb others into larger entities. “Kapag lima ang cooperative o pataas, magbibigay ako ng 1M,” he added.
Usec. Encabo’s programs aim to strengthen and develop micro and small cooperatives, offering an equal platform to all cooperatives regardless of size and category. He is also leading efforts to increase government-to-government and government-to-private sector partnerships, as well as providing more training and capacity-building measures to create more opportunities for the entire cooperative sector.
Most importantly, his main vision is to lead a unified and cohesive cooperative movement. “Shared mission & shared action” – a mantra of commitment led by the CDA Chairman – forefronts the institution’s efforts to achieve greater heights in unity and mutual support. By Krizza Joy Castillo