Cynthia Villar cites co-ops' role in improving lives

SEN. Cynthia Villar on Thursday, October 19, recognized the exemplary achievements of cooperatives in boosting local economic development.

«No cash prize can ever sufficiently reward the very important accomplishments of cooperatives in improving people's lives,» said Villar during the opening of the Coopreneurs Avenue Bazaar 2023 in Taguig City's Vista Mall.

At the bazaar, the entrepreneurial skills of residents of Taguig and neighboring places took center stage of the entrepreneurial event, sponsored by the Simbayanan ni Maria Multi-purpose Cooperative based in the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish shepherded by Fr. Anton Pascual.

The Simbayanan cooperative was the recipient of various awards, such as the Most Outstanding Cooperative in 2019 by the Cooperative Development Authority and the Gawad Parangal Award 2019 Regional Outstanding Cooperative under the Large Billion Category Cooperative Development Authority.

«It was also one of the winners in the 2015 Villar Sipag Awards, wherein P5 million in cash was given to 20 cooperatives in their annual nationwide search for outstanding organizations and community enterprises that serve as models in mitigating the country's poverty,» Villar said.

The Villar Sipag (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) was established by the Villar family to improve the living conditions of the poor and to give recognition to enterprises through the Villar Sipag Awards on Poverty Reduction.

«Through this initiative, Villar Sipag is able to acknowledge the work of cooperatives in supplementing government efforts to fight poverty,» the senator said.