MisOr 'coop' to hold mulit-stakeholders forum in May

THE Provincial Cooperative Office (PCO) of Misamis Oriental, together with the Cooperative Development Authority, will be holding a multi-stakeholders forum for small and micro cooperatives in the province on May 10.

Around 75 to 100 small and micro cooperatives in Misamis Oriental, including a single cooperative in Bukidnon, will be participating in the multi-stakeholders forum held in the Provincial Training Center, Provincial Capitol Compound.

According to Elizalda Palanan, the PCO focal person, the forum is organized to update the cooperatives within the province about the various projects of the different agencies which can assist in the development of the cooperatives.

“Kani ato syang gihimo aron mahatagan og kahigayonan ang atong mga small and micro cooperatives nga kahibalo sila unsa’y mga programa sa nagkadaiyang ahensya, especially sa kining mga ayudang pinansyal sa atoang mga cooperatives (We are holding this forum to provide our small and micro cooperatives opportunities through the programs of different agencies, especially in terms of financial assistance),” Palanan said.

She added that the event is also to show that the Provincial Government does not only help large cooperatives but also the small and micro coops.

Aside from the coops, several government agencies and non-government organizations will also be attending the forum such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, Masicap MSME Development Foundation Inc., and Philippine Coconut Authority.

Kamelo Javier Akiatan of the PCO, meanwhile, said the event would give opportunities to the members of the different cooperatives to bond together and share their experiences, joys and frustrations in running their businesses.

“Cooperatives then will have a new set of perspective and strive to work harder for the development of their cooperative. This will be a great impact to the cooperatives economically as they would see other opportunities to improve their products marketability and enhance their products in both substance, quality and packaging,” Akiatan said, adding that it will also increase linkages for future market and increase income with the sale of their products.