VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — Some 118 cooperative members in Ilocos Sur joined the Fundamentals of Cooperatives Training and Cooperative Management and Governance Training conducted by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)-Ilocos Sur, in partnership with the provincial government, on October 19-20.

The two-day training was held at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center’s lobby in this city in celebration of Cooperative Month.

Raymund Pilorin, field cooperative development specialist of CDA-Ilocos Sur, said that this training will equip the members, particularly the officers in their respective cooperatives, with the fundamentals and management skills.

He said, “Bale eight hours itong training para sa mga officers lalo na iyong mga bago lang, mandatory kasi na mag-undergo sila ng pagsasanay para makakuha sila ng Certificate of Compliance mula sa CDA.”

“Doon sa una, iyong fundamentals, they will know what is the history of cooperatives, how coops started, and the cooperative philosophy, practices, and values. Dito naibahagi sa kanila kung anu-ano iyong mga benefits ng pagkakaroon ng kooperatiba at kung bakit may kooperatiba,” explained Pilorin.

He also said that by establishing a cooperative, the members can help each other to make their lives better since they will have more access to the services offered by the government.

Meanwhile, on the second day of the training, the participants worked on enhancing their capacity and entrepreneurial skills to also contribute to the development of their cooperatives.

One of the attendees, Victoria Castillo Venenciano of the Barbar Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative in the town of San Juan said, “Sumali ako rito sa training para mapalago pa namin ang kooperatiba namin. Maliban din sa libre ito, marami kaming natutunan na maaari naming gawin at maibahagi rin sa mga kasama namin.”

She added, “Magandang nagsagawa sila ng ganitong pagkakataon na matuto kaming mga officers, kaya salamat sa CDA at sa provincial government sa pagbibigay sa amin ng training kahit maliit na kooperatiba lang kami.”

Further, the hanging of tarpaulins and motorcades joined by all cooperatives in the second district of the province as well as the first district were conducted to celebrate the Cooperative Month. (JCR/AMB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)