Senator Robin Padilla pushed for strengthening cooperatives especially for farmers and Indigenous Peoples, saying this is the most effective way that fertilizer and other forms of help from the national government can reach them.
Padilla said this entails the cooperation of agencies such as the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
“Ito pong coordination ng DA sa pagbibigay ng fertilizer sa mga magsasaka ay dinadaan sa LGU at ito po ay madalas ginagamitan ng pulitika. Kaya akin pong iminungkahi sa DA na mas mainam kung ito ay idadaan sa kooperatiba.”
“Ito pong coordination ng DA sa pagbibigay ng fertilizer sa mga magsasaka ay dinadaan sa LGU at ito po ay madalas ginagamitan ng pulitika. Kaya akin pong iminungkahi sa DA na mas mainam kung ito ay idadaan sa kooperatiba,” the legislator said at the hearing on the CDA’s 2023 budget.
“Umaasa ako na kayo po sa CDA, sa NCIP at sa DSWD, sa DA – bigyan nyo po ng sapat na atensyon at oras itong ating katutubo na sa hanggang ngayon ay humihingi ng katarungan sa atin,” the lawmaker added.
“IPs will greatly benefit from cooperatives, especially those victimized by landgrabbers and those who have difficulty selling their produce.”
According to the senator, IPs will greatly benefit from cooperatives, especially those victimized by landgrabbers and those who have difficulty selling their produce.
Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Cultural Committees and Muslim Affairs, said it is time to strengthen cooperatives as the government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has big plans for agriculture.
In response to Padilla’s questions, CDA chairman Jose Encabo said cooperatives have the capacity to improve the implementation of programs of agencies like the DA, as cooperatives are in a better position to determine the beneficiaries of government aid.
“Dahil sila ang may direktang kaalaman kung anong kapasidad ng bawat miyembro meron sila at alam nila sitwasyon ng lupain alam nila ang sitwasyon ng pagsasaka at alam nila paano mag-engage ng negosyo sa kapwa negosyante maging traders or direct buyers man dahil sila ang may unang engagement niyan,” Encabo said.
For his part, CDA Assistant Secretary Vidal Villanueva III said cooperatives are being established for Aetas in Zambales so they can receive help from the government, including piglets. He added there are cooperatives in other provinces such as South Cotabato, Bukidnon, and Agusan del Sur.
Villanueva added they are coordinating: with the NCIP to “cooperativize” IPs, “so that the government assistance will be easily transferred to these people.”
