The Davao City Cooperative Development Office (CCDO), in partnership with the Davao City Cooperative Development Council (DCCDC), held a trade fair and exhibit to promote the products made by cooperatives in the city.

The Cooperative Trade Fair and Exhibit is held at the activity center of Abreeza Mall from October 13 to October 17.

Present during the kick-off of the trade fair were representatives from the Department of Agriculture XI, Business Development Division of Department of Trade Industry XI, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, and other stakeholders.

City Councilor Jonard Dayap, Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperative Development and People’s Participation, was also present in the event.

Rosemilda Garcia, CCDO Trade Fair Focal Person, said that during the five-day fair, cooperatives both from Davao and other provinces and cities are showcasing their products and services.

“Amoang i-showcase ang mga serbisyo ug produkto sa mga kooperatiba diin mao’y isa sa mga makatabang sa paglambo sa ekonomiya sa siyudad (Through the trade fair, we’re showcasing the products and services of the cooperatives which play a vital role in the city’s economic development),” she told the City Information Office (CIO).

During the fair, several trainings including that of leadership, financial literacy, perfume making, and mushroom culture will be conducted.

There will also be job fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 15.

Mayor Sebastian Duterte, in a message read by Councilor Jonard Dayap, expressed his support to the cooperative sector in the city.

“We are optimistic that this year’s cooperative trade fair and exhibit will become an avenue to provide cooperative and non-cooperative enterprises a platform where they can showcase their products, programs, and services in line with their respective industries,” he said.

In the same message, Duterte highlighted the vital role that cooperatives play in promoting community empowerment, ensuring sustainability of businesses, and their contribution to the economic development of the city through the years.

DCCDC Chair Eduardo Reyes expressed hopes that in the coming years the products of the cooperative sector will become part of the staples in grocery stores.

He also assured that they will continue to improve and develop new products to further the already active participation of the cooperative sector in economic development.

The trade fair is participated in by 48 exhibitors from the Department of Agriculture Region XI, Income Credit Cooperative, Agri Component Corporation, Nabunturan Integrated Cooperative, Panabo Multi-purpose Cooperative, Sta. Ana Multi-purpose Cooperative, Cooperative Union of Davao City, Silangan Multi-purpose Cooperative, and Tagum Cooperative, among others. CIO