PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Cooperative-LGU Partnership Award (CLPA) was initiated in 2002 to honor and recognize cooperatives who have partnered with local governments to pursue social or economic development. It is a collaborative partnership between the author of the Local Government Code and the Cooperative Code and leading academic institutions [UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), PUP College of Cooperatives], executive agencies (Cooperative Development Authority), public enterprises (Land Bank of the Philippines), private corporations (Bridge Com and Touch Mobile) and local governments (through the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines) that promote local empowerment and cooperative development.

 OBJECTIVES OF THE AWARD

 The CLPA hopes to achieve the following objectives:

 ·    To recognize the achievements of cooperatives who have partnered with local governments in the implementation of projects that contributed to the improvement in the quality of life and empowerment of local communities.

·      To encourage cooperatives and local governments to be innovative and creative in promoting community empowerment, poverty alleviation, and local development.

·      To identify, document, popularize and disseminate best practices and lessons learned in cooperative-LGU partnership at the local level that will serve as foundation for research and

OUTSTANDING COOPS IN LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AWARDED

IN THE SENATE

Seventeen cooperatives from all over the country were recognized in the COOP-LGU Partnership Awards (CLPA) 2006 held at the Senate on January 23, 2007.

The seventeen cooperatives qualified for the CLPA 2006 Awards after a grueling nationwide site validation process conducted by government and academic institutions recently.

The CLPA recognizes and awards outstanding cooperatives that have joined hands with local governments in implementing social and economic development projects in local communities.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. is spearheading the CLPA in collaboration with the Land Bank of the Philippines, UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, PUP College of Cooperatives, Cooperative Development Authority, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, and Touch Mobile.

Senate officials led by Senate President Manny Villar and Senator Pimentel awarded three Most Outstanding Cooperatives for their efforts in alleviating poverty and promoting local development.

Paglaum Multipurpose Cooperative and the provincial government of Misamis Occidental received the Most Outstanding Cooperative-LGU Partnership Award (provincial category) for their electrification project and the rehabilitation of the coconut industry in the area. PMC grew from its original membership of 35 indigent individuals who contributed P2,000 into a cooperative with 13,000 members and assets of more than P50M.

San Dionisio Credit Cooperative of Parañaque City won in the city category for its active participation in local governance, particularly in successfully lobbying for the creation of a city cooperative office, training of cooperative leaders, and values education in the school system

Pavia Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PEMPC) won in the municipal category for organizing the vendors in the Pavia public market and facilitating the issuance of business permits, SSS and PhilHealth contributions, and providing cheap credit to its members. The PEMPC which recently won as Outstanding Coop in Iloilo will manage the Pavia public market through a contract with the municipal government starting this year.

The winners for each category received a cash grant of P200,000 and a plaque of recognition at the awarding ceremonies from Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. and Senate President Manuel Villar at the Senate on January 23, 2007. The partner local government units were likewise recognized during this occasion. 

The outstanding cooperatives who partnered with a province are Bongabong Coconut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro; Cebu CFI Community Cooperative of Cebu City; Ipil Consumers Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; and Mangloy Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Laak, Compostella Valley.  

Outstanding cooperatives in the city category are El Grande Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Catalunan Grande, Davao City; St. Jude Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Lucena, Quezon;  San Jose Del Monte Kooperatiba ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; Novaliches Development Cooperative of Quezon City and Napico Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Pasig City.

The outstanding cooperatives that partnered with a municipality are Dingle Government Workers Credit Cooperative of Dingle, Iloilo; Manatal Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Pandi, Bulacan; Maragusan Waterworks and Sanitation Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Maragusan, Compostella Valley; Maranding Women Investors Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Lala, Lanao del Norte; and Taba-ao Cuba Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Kapangan, Benguet.

The media partner for the awards was Manila Bulletin