The administrator of the Cooperative Development Authority batted for the creation of a Department of Cooperatives to address the wide-ranging issues confronted by the cooperative movement.
“The concept of the coop is wide,” said Dr. Eulogio Castillo, CDA chairman. “We have coop bank, coop insurance, housing, agriculture, fisheries, labor services, potable water, medical mission, electricity.”
He said these are major problems that can be addressed only a regular department for cooperatives in government.
He said he is convinced that wide issues faced by coops are best addressed by a cabinet-level department.
“Sa 42 years of experience ko po sa cooperatives, ako’y naniniwala na ito ang tugon sa malaking problema sa Pilipinas kagaya ng poverty, unemployment, food security and environment.
“The 1-10percent of the population control the 80% total of work donation,the more laborers more people expiring poverty due to small and slow phase development of our system in our nation,” said Castillo.
According to Castillo, data shows that the Philippines has a negative trade balance among the Asian Countries to include Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. And that only Philippines among the top 5 countries are unable to sustain the needs of its population due to lack of local production and industries.
“Ang aming paniwala ay isunusulong na dapat itaas ang level ng cooperatiba sa level ng cabinet right there with the presence of the President kung saan matugonan ng maayos ang samahanng cooperatiba para ma bigyang solution ang mga pangunanhing problema ng bansa,” said Castillo.
Fred Lumba, a cooperative advocate said only cooperatives will give reformed drug addicts or ex-convicts decent livelihood.
“If you are a member of a cooperative any privileges offered to the officers will have same benefits offered to its member,” Lumba said
“Even though you’re a drug rehab if you have a technical skills being tubero, if you are the member of the cooperative all members will be informed that you have a specific skills in that certain kind of work , all families having a problem in plumbing will recommended you to do the work,” Lumba said
Rey Rodis, a cooperative advocate, said President Rodrigo Duterte is aware of the advocacy to create a department for cooperatives.
