Taguig exhibits coop products, awards outstanding performance

Cooperatives in Taguig City will have a platform to showcase their indigenous and innovative products in the upcoming celebration of the International Cooperative Month to be held this October.

Highlighting the month-long celebration is the Trade Fair and Bazaar on the newly-opened Cayetano Blvd. to be held from October 22 to 31. It will feature products and services of more than 100 cooperatives in Taguig.

Mayor Lani Cayetano said the city government decided to mark the Cooperative Month with different activities to raise the awareness of the public on cooperatives and the important role they play in nation-building.

“The cooperatives play an important role in uplifting the lives of their members. Their combined efforts contribute greatly to social and economic progress,” said Mayor Lani.

According to Mayor Lani, the Trade Fair will also be complemented by a food bazaar and a day and night market in the same venue to be participated partly by private concessionaires, similar to that of “Mercato” in Bonifacio Global City and other areas in the metropolis, that will attract food lovers as early as 7:00 am until 12:00 midnight.

Capping the month-long celebration is the “Coop’s Night” on October 29 at the Taguig City University (TCU) auditorium in Central Bicutan, where awards will be given to honor the outstanding cooperatives in the city.

On October 1, a city-wide motorcade will officially mark the opening of the Cooperative Month. Cooperatives will also hold “Lugaw for a Cause” at the patio of St. Anne  Church, putting into practice the principle of corporate social responsibility. This project is expected to benefit an estimated 3,000 individuals.

There will also be a Local Cooperative Summit focusing on current issues about cooperativemovement and cooperatives of Taguig and Pateros will also launch a coffee table book and a photo exhibit at the TESDA Women’s Center on October 17.

On the same day, secretaries and treasurers of cooperatives will have a workshop about records management at the Simbayanan ni Maria Multi-purpose Cooperative in Brgy. New Lower Bicutan.

The city government has partnered with the Cooperative Union of Taguig and Pateros for the Cooperative Month celebration.

Also part of the month-long celebration is a Grand Aerobics event on October 6, that will be held on C6 at Lower Bicutan to be followed by a clean-up drive called “Coop Cares.”

According to data from the Taguig Cooperative Development Office, there are 114 registeredcooperatives to date, with a total membership of about 100,000.

In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives.

Under Republic Act No. 9520 or the Cooperative Code of 2008, Filipinos can freely organize into cooperatives to promote thrift and savings mobilization among members, generate funds and extend credit to members for productive and provident purposes, encourage systematic production and marketing, and provide goods and services to members. END