‘Mahirap talaga kayong pantayan’ – House Speaker Arroyo to Bulacan Coops
CITY OF MALOLOS – “Napakagaling talaga ng mga Bulakenyo, lalo na ng inyong mga kooperatiba, mahirap talaga kayong pantayan, mahirap pantayan ang record ninyo,” Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Speaker of the House of Representatives said during the Gawad Galing Kooperatiba 2018 awarding ceremony with the theme Cooperative: Partners for building Resilient and Empowered Communities towards a Better and Stronger Communities held at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in this city yesterday.
Arroyo further said that this is the reason why Bulacan has been amassing awards when it comes to cooperatives and that more than the acknowledgement, these almost 800 cooperatives with members equivalent to 20 percent of the province’s population is continuously contributing to the development of the economy.
The former president of the Philippines and current house speaker joined Acting Governor Daniel R. Fernando in tendering the awards to Samahang Kapatirang Kababaihan ng Pulilan Multi-Purpose Cooperative as the Gawad Galing Kooperatiba-Medium-Scale Category winner and Palayan sa Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative of the City of Malolos as the Large-Scale Category winner. Both of them took home a trophy and P80,000 cash incentive.
Moreover, Enrile Germar, chairman of the Kapitbisig sa Pag-unlad Multi-Purpose Cooperative was hailed as Gawad Galing Coop Leader while Jon Louie Santiago, Municipal Cooperative Development Officer of Marilao was awarded as the Gawad Galing Coop Officer, who both received trophy and P30,000 cash prize, and Municipal Cooperative Development Council of Marilao as Gawad Galing Coop Council and took home a trophy and P50,000 cash prize.
The GGK also recognized Bagong Barrio Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Pandi as Gawad Galing Kooperatiba Ginintuang Huwaran.
Fernando boasted that Bulacan is fortunate to be home to many cooperatives and encouraged them to continue being an inspiration to others.
“Salamat dahil may mga katulad nyong nagpupunyagi para matulungan ang ating mga kababayan, ang ating lalawigan,” Fernando said.
Meanwhile, Cooperative Development Authority chairperson Orlando Ravanera said that cooperatives help the country fight its number one enemy which is poverty, and with that they are essential to the community.
On the other hand, Rafael from the Palayan sa Nayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Malolos expressed his gratitude for the continued support and trust of the province that inspire them to give their best to serve their members.