Governor Lilia G. Pineda urged cooperatives in Pampanga to continue contributing to the province’s development as she commended their role in providing livelihood opportunities for people.
This developed when the governor presented the awards to the 28 top cooperatives in Pampanga during the recognition day program held recently at the Benigno Aquino, Jr. Memorial Hall, Capitol Compound in the City of San Fernando.
“Nakakabilib ang nagawa ninyo, binabati ko kayo at sana ay patuloy kayong lumago at makatulong pa sa mas marami nating kababayan.”
The governor said she was impressed with the total assets of Pampanga cooperatives which at P1.722 billion was even bigger than that of rural banks.
She emphasized that while making profits is important, being able to help others and seeing that they make a positive difference in the lives of others is even more so.
She also urged them to help those affected by the recent calamities, particularly the farmers, so they could bounce back from their losses.
According to her, she would suggest to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman that the funds of their respective agencies to help farmers and other calamity victims be given through cooperatives instead of to individuals.
“Mas madaling maisasagawa ng mga kooperatiba ang mga paper requirements dahil sanay na kayo at may maganda na kayong record na naipakita.”
She also made a commitment that starting next year, funds for livelihood will no longer be incorporated in the provincial budget, instead, “all collections, allocations for livelihood, including those from the national government, will be used solely for the programs of the Provincial Cooperative and Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCEDO)”.
After the awarding ceremony, the lady governor raffled off 20 computer units for the cooperatives present.
The provincial chief executive also announced that there will be a Provincial Cooperative Development Council (PCDC) night during the Pampanga week celebration in December at which she encouraged them to prepare cultural presentations the best of which will be given prizes totaling P200,000.00.
These pieces of good news were met with loud applause from the cooperatives’ officers and members who in turn presented the governor with a plaque of appreciation for her invaluable support to the cause of cooperatives.
The governor responded that “kahit mahirap, patuloy tayong magtulungan hangga’t meron tayong kakayahan upang maiangat ang kalagayan sa buhay ng ating mga kalalawigan”. (Pampanga PIO)
