More than 650 Co-operators from 150 member co-operatives, gathered in beautiful Boracay Island, located 200 km South of Manila on 21 and 22 May. The occasion was the the 46th Annual General Assembly of the VICTO National Co-operative Federation and Development Center (VICTO National), the apex and educational organization of co-operatives in Philippines. The theme for this year was, “Towards 2020; What will your co-op look like?”
The Assembly began with a warm welcome speech by Mr. Romulo T. Sisno, Chairperson of VICTO National. He hoped for active transactions and fruitful results, and wished participant’s good life. This was followed by the reading of a prepared Keynote speech by Mr. Balu Iyer, ICA-AP Regional Director. In his speech titled, “What will yOur co-op look like?”, he referred the question of “What will your co-op look like” is essence meant “What will our co-op look like?” He touched on what ICA has done during the first half of the Blueprint for a Cooperative Decade and also outlined the priorities for the second half. The broad issues could be categorized as promoting Democracy (youth, gender, ageing) and positioning co-operatives in the Collaborative Economy (commons, global public good, and digital disruption)
Six speakers from inside and outside of the Philippines spoke about their co-op’s activity.
1. “Inclusive Growth: Leaving no one Behind – LAMAC Multi Purpose Co-operative” by Ellen Limocon (Philippines). Ellen introduced the successful stories from LAMAC’s credit and agriculture sector and its various social activities for the members.
2.“International Youth Tourism Program in Malaysia” by Ms. Norlaili Mansor, Angkasa. She presented the co-op business model of international youth program, which promotes mutual understanding and cultural exchange among the youth.
3.“Participation for community building and sustainable activities of consumer co-op in Japan” by Yuki Nishimoto, JCCU/ICA-AP. Yuki presented the 2020 vision of Japanese consumer co-ops, and the business cases and activities under its vision
4.“Leveraging Social Media in Co-ops” – by Ms. Malou Guanzon-Apalisok. She presented how social media affected the world and importance of co-ops to bundle and grab its power as well.
5.“Gender Program of Local Government’s Unit” – by Mayor. Wilbert Ariel Igoy from Malinao Town. He introduced successful gender programs implemented inside of his organization.
6. “I see Kids Tours” – presented by Mr. Gian Carlo Luna. He introduced the youth tourism program conducted in Philippines.
Ms. Segunda A Lacaba, Chairperson of Eastern Visayas State University MPC from Tacloban City in her closing remarks, told the plenary was very informative for her. She added “the range of speakers, the diversity of sectors, the examples from co-ops of different sizes provided a broad canvas and there were enough cases for each cooperatives to take back and implement in their own co-operatives.”
The 46th of VICTO National’s AGM ended in great success on 22nd May, after the presentation of the business and accounting report of fiscal year 2015.
