The Governor of Negros Oriental led the new set of officers of the Provincial Cooperative Development Council in taking their oath of office in line with the observance of Cooperative Month on Oct. 11 at the Capitol in Dumaguete City.
The celebration banners the theme Cooperatives: Stronger Together Today for a Brighter Tomorrow.
It highlights the cooperative value of solidarity, the tradition of working together for a solidarity economy that is ingrained in the key cooperative.
“You are all part of the economic growth in this province. This year’s theme reflects the essence of what cooperatives stand for. You are a driving force in our economy. Your vision, mission, and integrity in serving the people are commendable, and know that your governor is here to support you,” said Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria in his message.
The Province has allocated an annual budget of P2 million for the cooperative council.
The Cooperative Development Authority, in collaboration with PCDC, spearheads the celebration of the Cooperative Month this October.
The newly-installed set of officers of PCDC include Shaquile Teves, chairperson; Estanislao Silva, vice-chair; Gemma Sumalpong, secretary; Julio Montero, treasurer; Atty. Norberto Denura, auditor; and Dr. Profetiza Sun-Lim, chair emeritus.
Lim, the outgoing PCDC chair, highlighted the council’s mission and achievements during her tenure.
“The Provincial Cooperative Development Council is mandated by the government to support cooperatives at all levels—provincial, city, and municipal. We have been serving cooperatives in Negros Oriental since the time of Governor Macias, and our commitment to helping the most vulnerable cooperatives remains strong,” she said.
Lim also emphasized the council’s focus on education and training.
“We provide mandatory training in good governance and financial management to ensure that cooperative leaders are well-equipped to manage their organizations effectively,” she said.
The Province currently has around 200 cooperatives with over 500,000 members.
“If a cooperative is well-trained, they can thrive and even become millionaires, starting from scratch. I urge the new officers to remain loyal and passionate about their work, as this council operates on a voluntary basis without honorarium,” added Lim.
Meanwhile, Cooperative Council Chair Teves praised the dedication of the officers.
“They are hardworking and capable. This is a great opportunity for cooperatives to unite under the motto ‘stronger together today for a brighter tomorrow,’” said Teves.
The chairperson also thanked the provincial government and partner agencies for their support in providing the cooperatives with financial and service assistance. (JCT/PIA-7 NegOr, with reports from Jonah Grace Nicolas, NORSU intern)
