TUNGAWAN, Zamboanga Sibugay โ Mayor Angelito โLitoโ B. Aniรฑon has welcomed the establishment of the Municipal Cooperative Development Council (MCDC), describing it as a long-overdue mechanism to strengthen the cooperative movement and spur inclusive development in Tungawan.
The move marks a policy shift for the municipality, as the previous administration under former Mayor Carlnan Climaco failed to organize an MCDC throughout his nine years in office, leaving local cooperatives without a unified coordinating body to link them with government programs and support systems.
In a courtesy visit on Thursday, Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Regional Director Ruben Cunanan met with Mayor Aniรฑon to discuss strategies for institutionalizing the council and integrating cooperative development into the municipalityโs economic agenda.
MCDC as Critical Bridge Between Cooperatives and LGU
Director Cunanan underscored that the MCDC serves as a critical bridge between cooperatives and local governance, ensuring that cooperatives are involved in policy formulation, capacity-building, and sustainable enterprise promotion.
The MCDC, according to Cunanan, will serve as the voice and vehicle of cooperatives in Tungawan. It ensures that cooperatives are part of local decision-making and economic planning.
Mayor Aniรฑon said the establishment of the MCDC reflects his administrationโs commitment to participatory governance and people-centered development.
The mayor emphasized that cooperatives are vital partners in reducing poverty and promoting self-reliance.
โWe welcome the creation of the MCDC because it will unify our cooperatives and strengthen their participation in the townโs development,โ Aniรฑon said. โThis is a new beginning for Tungawanโs cooperative sectorโone that empowers our farmers, fisherfolk, and small entrepreneurs.โ
During the meeting, CDA also presented programs under the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008 (RA 9520) and offered assistance for technical training, cooperative education, and monitoring systems to ensure accountability and growth.
Mayor is Open
Once fully operational, the MCDC will serve as Tungawanโs advisory and coordinating body for cooperative developmentโhelping align the LGUโs economic priorities with national cooperative strategies and ensuring that the sector plays a stronger role in local progress.
Tungawan, a town with rich agricultural and fisheries resources, has not yet harnesses the potentials of community-based cooperatives.
The establishment of the MCDC under Mayor Aniรฑonโs leadership will institutionalize the support mechanisms that were absent in the past administration, ushering in a new era of cooperation-driven development in the municipality.
Lorverle Caracol, former member of the Sangguniang Bayan, told Daily Sun Chronicle via Messenger that he has high hopes with the new mayor.
“He is open to the establishment of MCDC and the development of the agriculture sector,” Caracol said.
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