Recognizing the contribution of cooperatives to the economic growth of the country, the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) through the University Extension Center (UEC), led the opening of the two-week-long celebration of the 2022 Cooperative Month in the Science Community held on October 18, 2022, at the R&E Amphitheater, CLSU.
The opening ceremony was graced by Hon. Vincent DV. Alvarez, chairperson of the City Cooperative Development Council (CCDC) of the Science City of Muñoz.
In his speech, Hon. Alvarez expressed his heartfelt gratitude to CLSU for hosting such an event. He said that the Science City of Muñoz, especially the cooperatives within its vicinity, is very lucky to have CLSU around, which supports the development of cooperatives, by providing free training. It can be recalled that CLSU also conducted free online training via Zoom during the Coop Month celebration last year.
On the other hand, Dr. Armando N. Espino, vice president for Research and Extension, warmly welcomed the participants. He thanked Hon. Alvarez for his presence during the said event and also the coop representatives who took interest in joining the activities. He shared that CLSU partakes in this celebration as a long-time partner of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) in empowering the cooperatives in the region, being one of its accredited training providers.
In her closing message, Dr. Eugenia G. Baltazar, director of UEC, thanked the LGU-Science City of Muñoz thru Hon. Vincent Alvarez, for the unwavering support of the LGU to CLSU, especially to the extension activities the center has been implementing. Dr. Baltazar also said that she hoped that the partnership between the two will continue to foster.
The event is the first collaboration of CLSU and CCDC-Science City of Muñoz sponsored by the University Gender and Development Office.
After the opening ceremony, the “Training on the Allocation and Distribution of Net Surplus” was held with Prof. Winnie DC. Villanueva from the College of Business Administration and Accountancy as a resource person to 24 officers/members from the following cooperatives: Bantug Multipurpose Cooperative; Butao and Sapang Kawayan Farmers Agriculture Cooperative; Calabalabaan Farmers’ Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative; Catalanacan Multipurpose Cooperative; CLSU Credit Cooperative; City Cooperative Development Office; Farmers Joint Venture Agriculture Cooperative; Kooperatibang Likas ng Nueva Ecija; PCC Multipurpose Cooperative; Provincial Cooperative & Enterprise Development Office-Nueva Ecija; Santor Bongabon Agriculture Cooperative; and Try Me Agricultural Cooperative.
Moreover, a series of training was conducted with the following topics: “Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting for Cooperatives”, “Training on Accounting for Non-Accountants” “Training on Entrepreneurial and Business Management”, and “Compliance Training on Governance and Management of Cooperatives”.
In addition to the free trainings, the UEC has also implemented activities such as e-Eskwela Jingle Making Contest which started last October 7, and the Smart Clash: The 1st Provincial Cooperative Quiz Bee, which will be held on October 27.
Republic Act No. 11502 declared the October of every year to be Cooperative Month highlighting the sector’s role in attaining economic sustainability.
