Monthly Learning Session: Building The Co-op Ecosystem
NATCCO successfully launched its first Monthly Learning Session on November 9, 2026, engaging 379 virtual participants and reaching even more through Facebook live with group viewing sessions hosted by cooperatives in their offices. The online event provided a platform for learning, collaboration, and strengthening the cooperative movement through shared insights and new concepts.
Held every second Monday of the month, the initiative provides a regular platform for knowledge-sharing, meaningful discussions, and collective learning among cooperatives. Its inaugural session marks the beginning of NATCCO’s continuing effort to encourage a culture of learning and deepen the network’s shared commitment to cooperative development.
NATCCO Chairperson Romulo Dex Lumawig III delivered the welcome message, emphasizing that NATCCO is a network of cooperatives and that its initiatives, including the Monthly Learning Session, are ultimately intended to support its member cooperatives. He also highlighted the importance of leadership that remains open to growth and collaboration, sharing, “I believe that leadership is not only about providing good directions. It is also about listening, learning, and creating opportunities for others to grow.”
This was followed by an inspirational message from Usec. Alexander Raquepo, Chairperson of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), who underscored the value of meaningful connections within the cooperative sector. He emphasized that connections become more valuable when they are used not only for individual benefit but also to help others grow. He also discussed the identity of cooperatives, highlighting how the sector’s identity is rooted in its members and in the people they serve. As he put it, “Co-op enterprise is a social enterprise formed by the members, of the members, for the members.”
The learning session continued with Ms. Sylvia Okinlay-Paraguya, NATCCO Chief Executive Officer, who led the discussion on “The Cooperative Ecosystem.” Her presentation explored the cooperative economy and the importance of building stronger connections among cooperatives to create shared prosperity. She discussed how cooperatives, through democratic ownership and member-driven principles, respond to shared needs, strengthen communities, and help keep resources and opportunities within local economies.
The discussion also highlighted the diversity of cooperatives in the Philippines and their role in building a more inclusive and resilient economy. Drawing on the principle of cooperation among cooperatives, the session emphasized that working together allows cooperatives to share resources, strengthen their collective capacities, and create greater opportunities for their members and communities. The presentation further encouraged participants to see cooperatives not only as enterprises but as a business model of choice—one that brings together purpose, performance, mutual support, and community development.
The session also featured a plenary discussion, an energizer, and announcements, giving participants additional opportunities to engage with the topic and take part in the gathering. It concluded with a closing message from Ms. Sharon Marie S. Dy, Incoming NATCCO Chief Executive Officer, marking the end of the inaugural session and reinforcing the importance of continued learning and cooperation across the network.
As NATCCO approaches its 50th year and looks ahead to its golden anniversary in 2027, the launch of the Monthly Learning Session reflects its continuing commitment to strengthening cooperatives through shared knowledge, meaningful connections, and collective action. By creating regular opportunities for cooperators to learn from one another, NATCCO hopes and will further build a stronger, more connected cooperative movement.
