PIDIGAN, Abra (PIA) – Two hundred members of 40 cooperatives in Abra benefit from the two-day Provincial Cooperative Month celebration in Pidigan from October 17-18, 2024.
Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Abra Head Julio Decaleng shared that the celebration aims to empower cooperatives through proper education of the functions of cooperatives and the roles and responsibilities of their officials and members.
“Ito pong Cooperative Month celebration natin with the theme “Cooperatives: Stronger Together Today for a Brighter Tomorrow” ay sponsored ng newly registered cooperative na Provincial Cooperative Union of Abra in partnership with the CDA, Department of Agrarian Reform, Provincial Cooperative Office of Abra, and the Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ADTEMPCO) ,” he added.
Among the highlights of the celebration are discussions on CDA updates from CDA-Cordillera OIC Director Felicidad R. Cenon, and a series of training on cooperative fundamentals, governance, and management.
ADTEMPCO Manager Irene Bringas stressed the importance of the trainings as an avenue to improve the operation and services of cooperatives in the province.
“Tatta ket maaramid ti seminar nga nagbalin nga requirement tayo tapno makaala tayo ti certificate of compliance manipud iti CDA. Ipagpaganetget ko nga haan laeng gapu ta kasapulan iti training para iti compliance, masapul nga adalen met dagitoy opisyales nangnagruna kadagiti adda ti management tapno pumintas ti operations ti kooperatiba ditoy Abra,” she emphasized.
During the activity, participants also shared that the celebration helped them know more about cooperatives and their obligations as members.
“Naikkan kami ti dalan tapno maam-ammo mi ti kakabsat ti nadumaduma nga kooperatiba ti Abra, maamoan mi dagiti obligasyon, dagiti functions mi kas miembro wenno opisyal ti kooperatiba aglalo kadakami nga kabarbaro nga taga-Tangbao,” shared Sheryl Carayoan of the Tangbao Tingguian Agri-Coop in San Isidro.
Meanwhile, Arturo Ariota of the Mudiit Agrarian Reform Multipurpose Cooperative in Dolores, expressed the benefits of cooperatives especially to the farmer-members.
“Nasayaat met daytoy pang-kooperatiba ta adu ti maitul-tulong na kadagiti farmers nga beneficiary to agrarian reform. Nakaited da ti tractor ken kalding. Daytoy nga cooperative ket matulungan na dagiti beneficiaries kadagitoy panag-loan da. Sa pay kuma ket mataginayon ken mapasayaat dagitoy cooperative babaen ti panagtitinulong dagiti members,” he said.
The celebration was also attended by Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives National President Divina C. Quemi and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committeee on Cooperatives Chair Patrocinio Abaya Sr. (JJPM, PIA-CAR, Abra)
