CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Provincial Cooperative Development Council (PCDC) chairperson Chito Dayrit urged cooperatives and cooperative leaders here to explore various ways and means to strengthen the cooperative movement in the province.

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Dayrit said that during the culminating activity of the Cooperative Month celebration here, a strong cooperative movement coupled with enough financial and logistical support from government agencies would boost cooperative strength in Pampanga. He stressed the role of unity as a pre-condition of strength and how it is essential in running cooperatives.

“Our combined strength can generate substantial countryside development in our province,” Dayrit said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Cooperative officer Bert Gatus said the Provincial Government has been able to provide financial assistance to cooperatives aside from ongoing marketing support.

“We are exploring tie-ups with lending agencies and have been extending provincial government support in terms of finances and technical training. Much of our cooperatives have benefited from this,” Gatus said.

In a similar development, Butil party-list Representative Agapito Guanlao, who is the former president of Coopbank, said that incentives await cooperatives in the conduct of their business.

Guanlao said education of cooperative leaders is essential in taking advantage of various benefits for their groups.

“Cooperatives should also start providing basic social services like scholarships and medical missions. Cooperatives should also widen their roles in the community. Climate change and food security are also areas that could be taken into serious action by cooperatives,” Guanlao said.

Climate change, Guanlao said, affects all sectors. Cooperatives are in the best capacity to mobilize manpower to help in proper waste segregation, pollution reduction and environmental protection, he added.

Butil’s Unlad Saka sa Basura, he said, could be a jumpstart for transforming garbage into livelihood projects. The program is a tripartite program that gives funds for the development material recovery facilities that would process organic waste into fertilizer through the help of local government units and cooperatives.

Cooperatives, he added, would play a crucial role in promoting such facilities.

Guanlao hopes to provide all local government units here with material recovery facilities each costing around P1 million. “We are urging cooperatives to join in this program to ensure their success.”

Governor Eddie Panlilio, for his part, lauded all cooperatives here for their support to local communities and for their contribution to community development.

Panlilio said the cooperative movement here has been adjudged as the Outstanding Provincial Cooperative Development Council in Central Luzon.

“Cooperatives are pockets of hope for this country that is more and more feeling desperation,” Panlilio said.