Cooperators from the different federations and unions throughout the country gathered that afternoon of February 6^th at the Leyte-Samar Room of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza for CO/OPS for 2030 to listen to two distinguished global personalities from the movement as they make their presentations on what the future of the movement will be like not only for this new decade, but two decades from now as well.

The two esteemed figures were Dr. Ariel Guarco, Chairperson of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)-Global and one of the respected stalwarts of the movement in his home country, Argentina; and Dr. Balu Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-ROAP who is once again in one of his visits to the Philippine cooperative scene.

CO/OPS 2030 coincides with the United Nations as well as ICA’s sustainable development goals for the next decade, of wherein this confab made presentation on the Philippine cooperative scene, as well as its short- to-medium-term development plans.

Paradigm shift, level up efforts

 During his presentation, Chairman Orlando Ravanera of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) stressed how cooperatives are ‘powers of transformation as these generate that paradigm shift by empowering the people though the spirit of cooperativism, where the powerless can work together to achieve prosperity.’

“It is high time that the movement be aware of the issues, and come up with actions to combat climate change, as these affect people and agricultural production.” He cautioned; adding that “we in the movement have to stand as one, with concerted efforts to do our responsibilities not only to combat pressing issues like climate change but to fight poverty, inequality and violent extremism as well.”

On a very positive note, the CDA Chairman cited how the movement served as a shining example of generating peace: he cited, along with a slide presentation, of 1^st Lt. Jerome Jacoba of the Wounded Soldiers Agricultural Cooperative (WISAC), wherein he called the movement as ‘a countervailing force against terrorism and violent extremism’ in a much more productive and inspirational way—thanks to the invaluable support of the Koop Kapatid program.

“As the country awakens through cooperativism, let us take note of the flourishing of 18,000 cooperatives. The existence of cooperatives positively influences others, as rural opportunities abound by working with cooperatives. And, let us also take pride in our spirit of cooperativism that makes us a cooperative leader in Asia,” he graciously summed up.

Dr. Gary Leonardo, Chairperson of the Philippine Cooperatives Centre (PCC), for his part, gave a rundown on statistics on the movement in the country: 18,000 entities that employ around 600,000 with 11 million members who represents 16.5% of the Filipino population aged 20 years and above. He emphasized the goal of Ambisyon natin 2040 and that is- “the movement will be matatag (strong rooted), maginhawa (comfortable)   at panatag na buhay (secure life); this is the movement’s way of preserving the principle of cooperativism that is free from hunger and poverty, with adequate transportation, that we are safe in our homes, with peace and security and headed for a long and healthy life.”

The PCC Chair was very enthusiastic in discussing the level-up as well as best practices efforts of the different clusters such as the following:

• financial services (one coop financial system integrated with one coop bank, asset management, investment, health and insurance/a robust support system with improved risk management/IT-digitization enhancements/shared coop data base),
• agri-agra-aqua-dairy-fisherfolk (making farmers evolve as agripreneurs/agri-based system based on value-chain, high-value crops and quality-oriented produce/the strengthening of partnerships with government/more farm-to-market roads/unbridled land conversion),
• consumers-marketing-production (business integration, with primaries marketing to members; federations providing financing and marketing; higher-level federations, tapping regional markets/the support of pilot projects like rice farming), and
• utilities and transport services (where electric cooperatives be run by cooperatives instead of being privatized/renewal of water service franchises/ support of PUV modernization) and
• Advocacy- is the core platform of mainstreaming cooperatives issues and concerns and develop cooperative agenda for the benefit of the sector and also in terms of training and education, instilling the back to basics foundation, values and principles of cooperativism.

He further stressed that with the proposed amendments to the Coop Code, proposal for each LGU to allot two percent of its IRA for coop development projects; the proposed mandatory appointment of a coop officer in each LGU, more representation in the coop sector in Land bank of the Philippines (LBP); plus the strong support of R.A. 11364 which seeks to strengthen and reorganize the CDA clearly magnifies that the coop sector is ready to accept the challenge of the new decade in pushing substantial and meaningful reforms towards attaining social and economic justice.

Chair Leonardo made his positive end statement: “Our twin aspirations are Integration and Unification; and this will address differences as we integrate ourselves to unify with common emotions by feeling together.”

People-centered entities versus insensitive human actions

Speaking through an interpreter, Dr. Guarco heartily extended how he was so happy to be with Filipino cooperators, and how very timely it was for both Filipino and Argentine colleagues to share experiences and insights with one another.

“We are a movement that puts people together in the center of development and it is very enlightening to meet people face-to-face whereas the only way to move forward is to learn from each other,” he enthused.  Cooperatives, he emphasized, are committed to the development of persons, as these create people-centered economies, with coops being in the hands of the people in this home (which is our planet) that we can work for to be nurtured by the next generation.

While Dr. Guarco remained very upbeat on what the movement can do to help improve lives as well as to uplift the well-being of the vast majority, he also warned of insensitive human behavior, like in mass migrations, the dilemma which is triggered by more nations rejecting those migrants, the creation of more virtual and physical barriers, and financial instability. Yet he remained confident on how the movement and its members, who are committed to adhering to sustainable development goals that also promote gender equality in decision-making, peace and development, can be effective game-changers.

“Cooperatives are moving up. With premier products that can be presented like any other business products, but made by the movement with pride and quality. These are values that make us different from the rest and turning values into action are our principles,” he affirmed.

As for the weaknesses of the movement, Dr Guarco admitted the limited strength in cooperation among cooperatives, limited commitment in sharing resources for research and education, and lack of participation among large cooperatives. Yet he cited opportunities that abound, namely business connections and info sharing, active participation by youth and women, new and emerging business modes and new technologies in the service of human beings. These are perfect seeds indeed for a movement with 1.2 billion members that contributes around 10 percent of global GDP—and continues to grow.

On a humorous or lighter side, Dr Guarco equated the movement with the Argentine passion for football (soccer) whereas the players are great senior persons who have great experience. But how to get the young be involved in the next cooperative match—should they play? He heartily answered, no, but let them sit at the bench and learn by observing, and they must not score the goals yet for they have to learn first how to play properly from Day 1”. This analogy was warmly received by the audience!

PHL as reference point—and the Argentine examples       

 “The Philippines is a reference point for movements both regionally and globally due to their demonstration of what is cooperative in terms of identity, plus the fact that in a region which is the fastest-growing globally in terms of economic activities, the Philippines is also a stellar member, thanks to the innovations that its members in the movement are doing”, vigorously began Mr. Balu Iyer.

Furthermore, he mentioned the need to further instill the spirit of the movement through education, which still has to go a long way in our case. He cited the example of Malaysia where children learn the ABCs of cooperatives as part of their curriculum.

“It is an imperative if young people start with cooperatives, how to present the movement to the younger generation that succeeds them to maintain that continuum, and how to rethink,” Mr. Iyer reasoned out, adding that “with no poverty, no malnutrition, people become educated—of which cooperatives can see how they can play their part, bring everyone together, and cooperatives to be more engaged. There is a need to reach out, to increase awareness about how cooperatives are developing with SDG.

“In Malaysia, cooperatives have become very entrepreneurial, and with vigorous support from its Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives. In our country, cooperatives were once described as a sleeping giant, but now that its members are active, let us awaken others so that the movement can be effective,” he graciously summed up.

During the open forum that followed, Dr Guarco made very enriching inputs on the success of Argentine cooperative movement, citing how 40 percent of its population are cooperative members, with a very big percentage from all sectors, addressing the many needs in his country. This includes 600 electric cooperatives that penetrate areas where the state could not supply the needs or demands; and its producers’ and consumers’ cooperatives, where consumers buy from the former and strengthen the value-chain, with producers getting a fair price and consumers are charged reasonably for the purchase of goods.

“The movement opposed taxation of cooperatives because net surplus should not be considered as income, yet we went back with a counterproposal that instead of not paying no taxes, we shall contribute to the state. Two percent of total assets will be allotted for the economy, a sort of cooperative development fund of which coops contribute to the state in what we may call a win-win situation,” Dr Guarco pointed out.

As for electric cooperatives, he stressed how its members call on an assembly for getting investments, where capitalization is based on consensus among its 22,000 members. 10 percent of its funds are allocated for community development projects whereas he further elaborated that the best dividend is not the money or the quality of life, but on programs and services that are plowed back to the community.

Big question is, if cooperatives in the Philippines will be taxed, how will this work, for both the CDA and the national coffers?

“In Argentina, to give politicians a way out is to compromise, and we in the movement should be proactive instead of waiting for them to come up with measures they want to impose. For us in the movement, all it takes is consensus, a win- win solution.”

“Integration, understanding, the willingness to participate and maturity all epitomize how cooperative action is our strength. And with great integration the movement can change the destiny of any country.”

Such are words of wisdom indeed and to quote the great sage Confucius; “Even from afar, how people and minds do meet that amidst differences, they share the same likes and passions.

More so for a movement that is highly transformative and game-changing in nature.