Recognizing the vital contribution of cooperatives in the country’s development efforts, Presidential Proclamation No. 493 declared the month of October every year as National Cooperative Month.

The observance seeks to create greater public awareness of the cooperative movement’s emergence and significant role in national development efforts by empowering, in particular, those in the grassroots.

With the theme “One Coop Movement, One Vision, One Nation,” this year’s cooperative month will also celebrate the signing of the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008, Republic Act (RA) No. 9520, that amended the 1990 Cooperative Code of the Philippines, RA 6938.

The Act is a strengthened and more comprehensive law on the promotion and development of cooperatives in the country. It stipulates in greater detail the requirements in professionalizing the management and operation of cooperatives. It calls on cooperatives to conduct self-assessment of their managerial, financial, and social objectives. Under the new law, cooperatives are expected to play important roles in the country’s social justice and sustainable economic development programs.

The National Cooperative Month celebration seeks to instill the value of unity and active participation among the movement’s stakeholders, as well as pave the way for insightful discussions and sharing of best practices for purposes of advancing the growth and development of cooperatives in the Philippines.
Among the activities for the celebration are nationwide forums and symposiums, seminars, motorcades, cooperative quizzes for students and cooperative members, trade fairs, and conferment of recognition on outstanding and successful cooperatives.

We congratulate the country’s cooperatives, their officers and members, on the occasion of National Cooperative Month and wish them success in all their endeavors. May they continue to effectively serve as enabling agents in our society by undertaking more productive activities to uplift the lives of their members and the country.