ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Government is putting cooperatives at the center of its grassroots development push this October, highlighting their role in generating livelihood opportunities, strengthening local economies and building more resilient communities across the province.
The province will mark the 2026 Provincial Cooperative Month through a series of activities aimed at strengthening cooperatives and promoting cooperation and unity among their members and communities, with the Municipality of Carles serving as this year’s host.
The month-long celebration carries the theme, “Matibay na Kooperatiba: Nagkakaisang Pamayanan para sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran,” underscoring the strength, unity and contribution of cooperatives toward building empowered, peaceful and progressive communities.
Rather than merely celebrating the cooperative movement, the provincial government is using the observance to strengthen the capacity of cooperatives through training on their fundamentals, governance and management while providing opportunities for them to showcase their products and services.
The provincial observance forms part of National Cooperative Month celebrated every October pursuant to Republic Act No. 11502, which recognizes the significant contribution of cooperatives to national development and promotes the strengthening of the cooperative movement.
The Iloilo Provincial Government is encouraging the public to participate in the celebration and recognize the thousands of cooperative members, leaders and workers whose collective efforts help create economic opportunities, sustain livelihoods and strengthen communities throughout the province.
The celebration formally opens on October 2 at the Carles Gym, followed by the Fundamentals of Cooperative Training in Carles on October 7 and 8.
A Cooperative Trade Fair Exhibit will run from October 12 to 30 at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds, providing cooperatives a venue to showcase their products and enterprises to the public.
The 2026 Cooperative Congress, one of the major events of the celebration, will be held on October 14 at the Grand Social Hall of Casa Real de Iloilo.
The 2026 Cooperative Whiz Contest will follow on October 17, also at the Grand Social Hall.
Cooperative officers and members in Carles will undergo further capacity-building through the Governance and Management of Cooperative Training on October 21 and 22.
The month-long celebration will culminate on October 23 at the Carles Gym, bringing together members and leaders of Iloilo’s cooperative sector.
Through the activities, the provincial government aims to reinforce cooperatives not only as economic organizations but also as community institutions capable of pooling resources, expanding livelihood opportunities and contributing to inclusive local development./PN
