Aquino cites government-cooperative partnership in nation building
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the importance of cooperatives which, he said, is an invaluable partner in the government’s quest to eradicate poverty and improve the lives of the Filipinos.
In his speech keynoting the 10th National Cooperative Summit at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Sunday, the Chief Executive assured the cooperative member-participants of his administration’s continuous support to strengthen the cooperative movement.
He also paid homage to his mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino, whose advocacy to empower people by providing micro-finance loans and other cooperative-based activities, has been instrumental in uplifting the lives of countless Filipinos.
“Sa panahon ng panunungkulan ng dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino, nagging adbokasiya niya ang ‘people empowerment through microfinance and cooperative-based activities.”
Nagbigay daan ito sa pagpapaunlad sa kabuhayan ng marami nating kababayan (During the term of my mother, former President Corazon Aquino, her advocacy of people empowerment through microfinance and cooperative-based activities has improved the lives of many of our countrymen),” the President said.
“Hindi lang po natin itutuloy ito. Makaka-asa kayo na todo ang ating suporta sa adhikaing palakasin at palaguin ang kooperatiba (We will not only continue this advocacy. I assure you of our commitment to strengthen and increase the cooperative movement),” he added.
According to the President, the move to improve and strengthen the scope, coverage and efficiency of cooperatives was already in place even during his time as a lawmaker. He pointed out that he supported amending the Cooperative Code of the Philippines by pushing for the inclusion of social auditing measures so that the cooperatives could fine tune its focus on the needs of its respective communities.
“Sa rebisyon pong ito, sinusuri natin kung dumarami ba ang trabaho at lumalago ang negosyo sa mga komunidad o palaki lang nang palaki ang inuutang mula sa deposito ng mga miyembrong kooperatiba (Through this amendment, we will be able to ascertain the efficiency of the cooperative: are there more jobs and are livelihood projects increasing or are the loan amounts being given getting bigger and bigger),” the President said.
“Naniniwala po akong kailangan nating tiyakin na sa atin pong ibinabahaging pondo, lahat ay makikinabang at hindi sinasarili lamang ng iilan ang mga benepisyong nakukuha mula sa mga kooperatiba (I believe that this is important to ensure that everyone will be able to avail themselves the benefits of working with cooperatives and not just a few),” he added.
“Kaya naman sa ating pagsuporta sa organisasyung tulad nito, babantayan natin ang mga operasyon ditto para maisabuhay ang diwang kooperatiba kung saan ang benepisyo ng isa ay benepisyo ng lahat (We will safeguard the operation of cooperatives so that its benefits will trickle down to all),” the President stressed.
The President asked cooperative-members to work hard and remain industrious so that their respective cooperatives will flourish and thus help more people.
“Huwag kayong sumuko at gawin nating matibay na pundasyon ng pag-asenso ang inyong mga samahan,” the President said. (PCOO)
Aquino appoints more officials in gov't
President Benigno S. Aquino III has named several new personalities in the government.
In a radio interview over government-run radio station Radyo ng Bayan (DzRB) on Sunday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced the appointments of Joseph Peter Sison as president of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), Luis Martin Gascon as board member of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Nestor Palabyab as deputy executive director of the Philippine Trade Trading Center (PTTC) and Grace Llamanzares as chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classifications Board (MTRCB) with Emmanuel H. Borlaza as vice chairman.
Valte made it clear that the new officials were named after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued an exemption on the appointments.
“Kasama ito sa mga napag-applyan natin ng exemption. May approval na tayo ditto ng Comelec,” Valte explained. (PCOO)
