The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs – BARMM, through its Ancestral Domain Division, successfully organized the IP Cooperative Congress 2024, featuring 25 Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) cooperatives under the theme “Stronger Together Today for a Brighter Tomorrow,” held on October 21, 2024, in Cotabato City. (Benyamin Cabuntalan/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) held the Indigenous Peoples’ Cooperative Congress 2024 on Oct. 21 to strengthen collaboration between IP cooperatives and BARMM ministries in addressing challenges.
The congress, held at City Mall Convention Hall in this city, aimed to tackle common challenges and promote knowledge-sharing under the theme ‘Stronger Together Today for a Brighter Tomorrow’.
MIPA Ancestral Domain Division, Chief Rodolyn Andres emphasized the importance of establishing cooperatives and collaborating with various agencies.
“Cooperatives are well-integrated into Philippine society, with a the primary objective of improving the quality of its members and transforming micro and small cooperatives into medium and large cooperatives,” Andres said.
“Bangsamoro region is an agricultural area. Agricultural cooperatives greatly contribute to poverty reduction by offering an inclusive and democratic avenue for economic growth. Cooperatives are key economic players for improving food security,” she added.
Andres also acknowledged some of the challenges faced by IP cooperatives, including management issues, financial sustainability, and limited resources.
“We’ve identified key partners such as CSEA, MAFAR, and Land Bank to address these challenges. Their support is crucial for fostering partnerships between IP cooperatives and government agencies,” she added.
Cooperatives and Social Enterprise Authority (CSEA) Cooperative Division Chief Hayat Pilas assured participants that their office would provide technical assistance to help cooperatives grow and become competitive.
“We offer partnerships that empower you to manage your cooperatives and make them nationally and internationally competitive,” said Pilas.
MIPA Minister Melanio Ulama encouraged participants to remain resilient and adhere to the requirements set by the ministry, emphasizing the importance of unity in achieving sustainable development.
“We must adhere to the requirements set forth while striving for integrity in our endeavors. The journey towards sustainable development is indeed challenging, but as we unite under the banner of cooperation, we can pave the way for brighter futures for our communities,” Ulama said.
“The IP Cooperative Congress 2024 was not just an event; it was a testament to our collective resilience and the unyielding spirit of Indigenous Peoples,” the minister added.
He expressed gratitude to partners such as CSEA and MAFAR, aligning with the Chief Minister’s slogan that “no one will be left behind”. (Majid Nur/BIO)
