CDA helps rebel returnees form coop

Posted to the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 12, 2020): CDA helps rebel returnees form coop (By Carlson B. Alelis)

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 12 (PIA) – The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) - 6 provided assistance to 42 rebel returnees in Negros Occidental to establish their own cooperative.

According to Vincent Unarce, CDA-6 acting senior cooperative specialist, their agency conducted a pre-registration seminar to rebel returnees coming from barangays Washington, Malasibog, Pinapugaran, Alimango, Paitan, Jonob-jonob in Escalante City, last month.

CDA-6 also provided technical assistance on the preparation of registration documents and eventual registration of the proposed cooperative.

The agency recommended for the group to form an agriculture cooperative.

“Ang ginbutang naton nga kooperatiba amo ang agriculture cooperative since ang aton nga site upland (We suggested to put up an agriculture cooperative since the site is an upland area),” said Unarce.

The said cooperative will focus on culturing high-value crops like lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and cauliflowers, among others.

It can also facilitate the procurement of fertilizer and farm implements to be used by members for their crops.

Once the cooperative performs well, it may get net surplus or surplus income.

This comes in the form of interest and share capital or patronage refund, said Unarce.

While CDA-6 suggested for them to have an agriculture cooperative, they may also opt to choose a different cooperative.

Among those that may choose are marketing, consumer, agrarian reform, and producers.

The activity is one of the initiatives of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC). (LTP/CBA/PIA-6)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1034470