Over a hundred representatives of various cooperatives in the Davao Region gathered at Rizal Park, Davao City on Saturday to celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives.
The International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated every first Saturday of July to raise awareness about their contributions to development and peace.
Davao City Cooperative Development Office (CCDO) Officer-in-Charge Dona España told Madayaw Davao that the event also aligns with the United Nations’ declaration of the International Year of Cooperatives.
“Cooperatives from across the region are here with us, and this is the first time Davao City is hosting such an event,” she said.
During the program, Davao City Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre acknowledged the role of cooperatives in creating livelihood programs.
España added that in Davao City, the City Government continues to support cooperatives by providing technical assistance across districts to help ensure compliance with Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) requirements.
She said that within the city, cooperatives may request training sessions, which the CCDO team will provide free of charge.
They also have a Sustainable Livelihood and Enterprise Program and provide Cooperative Financial Assistance to cooperatives as institutions, as well as capital assistance for individual cooperative members who wish to start their own businesses.
“I am proud to say that the services we provide—whether technical or skills-based—are offered to our clients completely free of charge,” España said.
She explained that to avail of these services, cooperatives must follow the protocol by first submitting a request letter to their district offices specifying the desired training. The CCDO will then schedule the training based on their division’s availability.
According to España, Davao City has over 800 registered cooperatives, with about 400 currently active.
“We have a strong number of about 400 active cooperatives in Davao City alone, and we are truly fortunate to have the support of the City Government of Davao,” she said. CIO
