WITH 846 registered cooperatives, nearly half of all cooperatives in the Davao Region, which has over 1,800 in total, Davao City plays a central role in advancing cooperative-led development in Mindanao.
Officials from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Region 11 and the Davao City Cooperative Development Office shared these figures during the Kapehan sa Dabaw forum, held Monday, June 23, at The Annex of SM City Davao.
Miraflor Trocio, senior cooperative development specialist, said cooperatives in Davao continue to grow, not just in number but in impact as they provide essential services and economic opportunities for ordinary citizens.
She cited the most active types of cooperatives in the city—farmers’ cooperatives, credit and lending groups, and transport cooperatives—as vital contributors to local development and member empowerment.
Meanwhile, Maria Theresa B. Dave of CDA Region XI stressed the importance of official registration, warning that only registered cooperatives are eligible for government support programs. She also reminded the public that falsely labeling an organization as a cooperative is a violation of the Republic Act 9520, carrying possible legal penalties.
In celebration of International Cooperative Day, a parade from Freedom Park to Rizal Park is scheduled for July 5, featuring various cooperative groups from the city. The event aims to raise awareness of coperatives’ role in sustainable, inclusive development.
Organizers also encouraged youth involvement, seeing cooperatives as a platform for young Filipinos to learn entrepreneurship, engage in social enterprise, and actively participate in their communities.
With the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” this year’s celebration puts the spotlight on the growing role of cooperatives in shaping resilient, people-centered economies in the Philippines and around the globe.
