By Anthony A. Araos
I almost missed this two-day activity for cooperatives in Ifugao. Held at the new provincial capitol building in Lagawe, it handled concerns in governance and management. All made possible by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and Governor Jerry Dalipog.
Why attend an activity geared to guide so-called newly-formed cooperatives? It was a timely query. I’m quite familiar with Ifugao’s cooperatives for quite some time. All too familiar with issues on poor governance and mismanagement faced even by long established big cooperatives in this upland Cordillera province.
Cooperatives are very important and yet they are underutilized in the Philippine context. Cooperatives are owned by ordinary people. A cooperative teaches the ordinary Filipino a lot of things on enterprises with the intention of supporting them in the long-term.
Cooperatives should have a very strong voice in policy-making. Cooperatives are truly able to help the people if operated by competent individuals. But first, it’s time to correct the impression that one should put up a cooperative simply because there are funds available. Without the proper education on what a cooperative is and what values and principles it should hold for its members, everything else is disastrous. Education then is the key. Potential members have to be educated on what real cooperative is.
Cooperatives are so important in the agriculture industry as they allow small farmers the opportunity to group together for better market leverage. It’s time to encourage farmers to become entrepreneurs, to uplift their standard of living. It can surely help the government in terms of economic activity and taxation as most big cooperatives are credit cooperatives.
A lot of farms in the country are made up of small plots of lands which the government encourages the formation of cooperatives and take advantage of economies of various sectors. Most of these farm cooperatives are in the intensive care units (ICUs) because the ownership of the product of the land is very limited, only five hectares per farmer.
The plight of farm coop members is alarming. Many struggled to make both ends meet. They are burdened by the high cost of living. The present energy crisis only worsened it, disrupting already precarious income. My fervent prayer is for the development of farmer coops because it opens more opportunities for farmers to generate bigger incomes.
Today, the cooperative front in this part of the globe is plagued by serious problems. Big business still want to put up their own cooperatives, invest in them and gain tax exemptions. They are not true cooperatives. Moneyed politicians are doing the same. They are investing heavily their ill-gotten wealth to countries of cash-strapped coop members.
There is a need for amendments on Republic Act 9520. That is the Cooperative Authority of the Philippines. There is also a pressing need to focus more on cooperative development, especially related to advocacy.
Commendations to the CDA team assigned by Regional Director Felicidad Cenon on this activity! They are Marisol Sofranes, Donna de la Cruz, Arden James Beswayan, Amelita Bayowan, Mirasol Laoayan, Parity Nga-awan III, Nellie Tanglib and Richard Monte. Board member Geronimo Bimohya also took part in this endeavor. I’m indebted to Rocelisa Guiniling of the PCEDD for her invaluable assistance.
What a difference a cooperative makes. Tireless efforts of the lecturers matter in many refreshing ways. I’m giving the two lecturers the highest grade. Overall, it was a success. However, it would be utterly wrong to take the course of spoon-feeding these 60 or so Ifugao attendees.
I look forward to a speaking engagement in Zambales, sponsored by a cooperative, engagements with my topic on mango orchard management vis-à-vis the lucrative export market.
Also, eyeing is my engagement with Gov. Dalipog and Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid, chairman of the Committee on Cooperatives. Sadly, “someone” questioned my presence in the said activity, smacking of blatant discrimination- all because I’m not an Ifugao and not attached with a government-controlled publication. Such foul logic has no place in civilized society. Well, I proudly stand with the ZigZag Weekly as well as editor-in-chief and publisher of a cooperative newspaper in Ifugao. Impossibly muzzled by no quarters!
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