Guarco visit seen to boost Philippine co-ops
International Cooperative Alliance president, Ariel Guarco, is set to visit the Philippines on February 5 and 6 to confirm the solidarity of Philippine cooperatives with the three million cooperatives worldwide. This was announced by the Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC) composed of some 30 co-op federations all over the country. In a press statement, the PCC said: “Philippine co-ops are a growing force in the Philippine economy and will definitely have more positive impact on the socio-ec
According to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), the government agency regulating cooperatives, there are now 11,000 operational cooperatives with combined memberships estimated at 10 million, while providing direct employment to 580,000 and indirect employment to 2 million.
Philippine cooperatives are engaged in microfinance, banking, insurance, agriculture, marketing, job placement, education, tourism, water and electric utilities, trading, broadcasting, housing, funeral services, medical and other services.
The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) was founded in London, UK in 1895, and has grown to be “the largest global non-governmental organizations that represent over 700 million people through 313 cooperative federations and unions in 109 countries.”
The ICA website reported that “more than 12% of humanity is part of any of the 3 million cooperatives in the world, that the largest 300 cooperatives and mutuals report a total turnover of 2,034.98 billion USD in 2019, and cooperatives employ 280 million people across the globe – 10% of the world’s employed population.”
Among the members from the Philippines include huge, established federations like MASS-SPEC, VICTO NATIONAL, NATCCO Network, Metro South Cooperative Bank (MSCB), Federation of Peoples’ Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC), 1CISP, ULSCC, and the PCC, considered the national alliance of the cooperative movement in the country.
The Guarco visit is seen to boost global recognition of the Philippine cooperative movement, which has actively participated in ICA activities and has pushed its advocacies nationwide.
“Such participation in ICA keeps Philippine cooperators updated on campaigns, advocacies and programs on how the essence of ‘cooperativism’ can be strengthened, as well as adopt new technologies from their exchanges with fellow ICA members worldwide,” the statement said.
The ICA has actively campaigned for co-operatives to be the preferred form of business enterprise, urging leaders worldwide to make and implement cooperative-friendly policies.
The ICA recently released its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that by 2030 “to end poverty and hunger everywhere; to combat inequalities within and among countries; to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies; to protect human rights and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources, create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work for all . . .”
“The Philippine cooperative movement led by the ten ICA members will create that ideal frame of mind towards the new vision for 2030 whereas this will help chart the path towards: strong influence in policy formation, full cooperation among cooperatives and press cooperative values,” the press statement added.
“We will let the world know that Philippine co-ops have lifted more people out of poverty; that coop products have been mainstreamed in both national, regional and global markets; and that cooperatives have fully adopted IT technology and digitalization,” the statement concluded.