CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA – The most outstanding cooperatives in the province were given recognition during the 3rd Galal Parangal Kareng Kooperatiba Ning Pampanga, in line with this year’s celebration of Cooperative Month.
The event, held at Benigno Aquino Hall, Capitol Compound here, was spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Pampanga, through the Provincial Cooperative and Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCEDO), in partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
Board Member of the 2nd District and Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperatives, Anthony Joseph Torres, said that the aforementioned award-giving body is aimed at motivating cooperatives to strive for further development.
“We’ve been doing this for the past three years, and we would like to recognize ‘yung kasipagan ng mga kooperatiba at cooperative members natin dito, so we hope that this event will continue so they can serve as motivation for other cooperatives operating in our province,” he said.
Board Members Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, Olga Frances “Fritzie” Dizon, Cherry Manalo, Rosve Henson, and Moshe Lacson, president of Sangguiang Kabataan Federation, were also present to confer plaques and certificates of recognition to winners.
During the awarding ceremony, ASSCOM Multipurpose Cooperative was hailed as this year’s most outstanding cooperative in the large scale category; Romana Pangan District Hospital Multipurpose Cooperative in the medium scale category; and Pro-3 PNP NUP Multipurpose Cooperative in the small scale category.
Among the recipients of special awards in the large scale category include the Golden Group Gabay Puhunan Brotherhood Multipurpose Cooperative, Best in Organizational Management; ASSCOM Multipurpose Cooperative, Best in Participation to Community Development; and Apung Monica De Minalin Multipurpose Cooperative, Best in Financial Management.
Also winners in the medium scale category were DILG R-3 Kilusang Bayan sa Pananalapi Credit Cooperative, Best in Organizational Management; Romana Pangan District Hospital Multipurpose Cooperative, Best in Participation to Community Development; and Pampanga High School Multipurpose Cooperative, Best in Financial Management.
Pro-3 PNP NUP Multipurpose Cooperative, meanwhile, also received Best in Organizational Management award in the small scale category; MEPI Employees Multipurpose Cooperative, Best in Participation to Community Development; and Light Employees Credit Cooperative, Best in Financial Management.
The only recipient in the micro scale category was the South Gumain Multipurpose Cooperative who bagged the Best in Organizational Management award.
Some city and municipal cooperative development councils and officers from the City of San Fernando, Guagua, Mabalacat, Minalin, San Simon, Porac, Masantol, Sto. Tomas, Candaba, and Sta. Rita were also given special citations.
The event concurred with the 3rd Pampanga Cooperative Summit which is being held annually to gather cooperatives in the province.
According to Marieta Hwang, CDA regional director, the theme ‘COOPERATIVISM: A Countervailing Force Against Climate Change and Violent Extremism Through People Empowerment to Trailblaze Shift in Paradigm Towards Sustainability and Social Inclusion’ was set to inform people that cooperatives also play an important role in the economy in terms of uplifting people’s lives.
“Mahirap o mayaman, nakapag-aral o hindi, basta ikaw ay nasa cooperative, hindi ka dapat naiiwanan sa development,” Hwang said.
It was also learned during the event that Pampanga championed in the recent Kooplympics held at Palayan City Convention Center in Nueva Ecija last October 18.
This was participated by seven provinces in Central Luzon, and two highly-urbanized cities, namely Angeles and Olonggapo City.
“Kagagaling lang po natin sa isang activity, ang Kooplympics. Congratulations po sa ating lahat, dahil tayo po ang champion,” said Luningning Vergara, PCEDO head.
Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, through Board Member Torres, also expressed his gratitude to all cooperatives in the province for the help that they are giving to the people of Pampanga.
“Ang ating pong butihing governor, Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, ipinapaabot po niya ang kanyang pasasalamat sa lahat ng kooperatiba sa ating probinsiya, dahil alam niya kung gaano nakikinabang ang lahat ng miyembro rito. Makakaasa po tayo sa suporta ng ating butihing governor sa lahat po ng activities ng mga kooperatiba,” Torres said.