Coops Play Important Role in Fighting Poverty

“Cooperatives have a very important role in fighting poverty especially in the agricultural communities of our country. And that is really the essence of the existence of cooperatives–to help improve the lives of our countrymen especially in the rural areas.”

Senator Cynthia Villar underscored this in her message during the 9th Benguet Cooperative Convention on Wednesday, here. which was delivered by Cooperative Development Authority – Cordillera Director Franco Bawang Jr .

Villar expressed her continuous support to coops especially in pushing for legislations and other measures which will benefit especially those in the agriculture sector. She underscored the need to reduce poverty in the rural areas as two-thirds of the country’s population is involved directly or indirectly in agriculture.

“If we can reduce poverty in these areas, we can help reduce poverty in the entire country,” she stated.

Under Republic Act 10848 or the Act Extending The Period Of Implementation Of The Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Up To Year 2022, she worked out for the removal of all the barriers faced by farmers who comprise most of the coops such as lack of technical expertise, lack of financial literacy, lack of access to cheap credit and lack of mechanization that prevent farmers from being successful and competitive.

ACEF provides a level playing field in access to not only education and training, but opportunities to modernize and mechanize existing facilities or operations.

Villar defended the upholding of tax exemptions for coops under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law explaining to the Department of Finance the reason coop tax exemptions should not be lifted due to the assistance cooperatives are extending to the Filipino people.

She assured to pursue legislations that will spur growth and development of coops especially those under the agriculture sector and empower them as they still remain among the poorest in the country.

Coops are the government and the private sector’s partners in promoting agriculture-driven growth and entrepreneurial development, she added.

Villar’s support to the sector extends beyond her job as legislator but also a family crusade in poverty eradication through the establishment of the Villard Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG) promoting self-reliance and helping people attain economic development.

The SIPAG Awards on Poverty Reduction gives recognition to outstanding coops for their initiatives in community enterprise as model of good practices in income poverty reduction. For Benguet, one of the recipients in 2016 was the Taloy Norte Multipurpose Cooperative which received P5 million cash award.

More than 300 coop members and stakeholders participated in the two-day convention on October 16-17 at the Provincial Capitol Covered Court. (JDP/SCA-PIA CAR, Benguet)