Poverty Reduction? Count on the coops
From technical and vocational training to abandoned abused and neglected youth to technical training for farmers, self-employment programs to financial literary trainings, 21 outstanding cooperatives nationwide stood out with their anti-poverty strategies that paved the way for better lives in their communities.
The cooperatives were recognized by the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG) of Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, former Senate President Manny Villar and DPWH Sec. Mark Villar, each group receiving P250,000, as seed money to start a new business or expand their existing projects, and Villar SIPAG bamboo trophy specially made by the Samahan ng mgaMang-uukit ng Paete.
More than 220 cooperatives joined the search for the 2017 Villar SIPAG Awards, of which, 21 cooperatives were selected based on their projects’ effectiveness, significance, financial viability, sustainability and adaptability.
“We take our hats off to these cooperatives for the wonderful jobs that they do and for all their efforts in helping reduce poverty in our country, particularly in the countryside,” Sen. Villar said.
The 21 cooperatives that made the cut are the following: Don Bosco Technical Vocational Education and Training Center, Tondo, Manila; Mapag-ampon Parish Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Putatan, Muntinlupa City; North, Central Luzon Treasure Link Cooperative Society, Sagada, Mountain Province; Tabuk Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Tabuk City, Kalinga; Sto. Domingo Development Cooperative, Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur; Wesley Savings and Multi-Purpose Cooperative, San Isidro, Isabela; Mother Rita Multi-Purpose Governance Structure, Candelaria, Zambales
South Luzon, Bicol Region
Padre Garcia Development Cooperative, Pansol, Padre Garcia, Batangas; Tuy and Community MultiPurpose Cooperative, TMPC Village, Brgy. Luna, Tuy, Batangas; Mindoro Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro; Pecuaria Development Cooperative, Bula, Camarines Sur; PinoyLingap Damayan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Virac, Catanduanes Visayas Libacao Development Cooperative, Libacao, Aklan; Buenavista Development Cooperative, Buenavista, Guimaras; Fairchild Cebu Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu; Sts. Peter & Paul MultiPurpose Cooperative, Southern Leyte Mindanao Goodyear Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Zamboanga Sibugay; Agdao MultiPurpose Cooperative, BO. Obrero, Davao City; Adventurers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Polomolok, South Cotabato; Agusan Del Norte Teachers, Retirees, Employees and Community Cooperative, Butuan City; Alrahman Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.