12 Surigao Norte farmer organizations receive cooperative status
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — Twelve agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) from Surigao del Norte were recently granted their Certificates of Registration (COR) during the One-Stop ARBO Caravan held in Butuan City.
Spearheaded by the Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) Caraga, the January 20-21 activity brought together key government
agencies, including the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to support cooperative
registration, farmer empowerment, and product showcasing from ARBOs across the
region.
The One-Stop ARBO Caravan also demonstrated the
resilience and unity of Caraga’s farming communities.
For many recipients, the COR marked the
culmination of years of perseverance and collective effort.
Ako nalipay tungod kay nahimo na nga kooperatiba
ang among asosasyon, ug mapasalamaton ako sa DAR nga maoy kauban namo aron
madawat ang among COR gikan sa CDA” (I am indeed happy because finally our
association is now a cooperative, and I am thankful to DA for being our sincere
partner, allowing us to receive a COR from the CDA),” said Ebelito Bradillo,
chairperson of Camam-onan Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Cooperative
(CAFARBCO) of Gigaquit town.
The event was inspired by DAR Undersecretary Josef
Angelo S. Martires, CESO II, who highlighted perseverance as a key factor in
the success of cooperatives and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to
providing market linkages and sustainability support.
“Hindi lahat ng nagsimula para maging kooperatiba
ay nakararating sa puntong ito, pero lahat nag nakaratininsa puntong ito ay may
bagay na pare-pareho: hindi sila sumuko. (Not everyone who started reached this
far of becoming a cooperative. But those who have become one, you have
something in common, you never gave up,” said Usec. Martires.
For the CDA, the issuance of a Certificate of Registration is a significant document, as compliance with CDA registration is a mandatory legal process that grants juridical personality to cooperatives in the country. It authorizes cooperatives to operate legally, fostering resilience and socio-economic growth for countryside development and nation building. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with a report from DAR Surigao del Norte)
