Cooperative leaders representing the three provinces and the highly urbanized city of the Zamboanga Peninsula—Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga City—gathered in Pagadian City on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, for the Region 9 Cooperative Chamber Assembly.
The event brought together committed advocates determined to strengthen their cooperatives and uplift their members. Participants engaged in a learning session facilitated by the Co-operative College of the Philippines, which emphasized leveraging universal cooperative values and principles to solidify cooperative identity across the region.
DEPDev Zamboanga Peninsula Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Marife Guerrero presented the regional development plan, highlighting the vital role cooperatives play in driving local growth. National Anti-Poverty Commission Assistant Secretary Mary Rose Villaflor also addressed the assembly, outlining national anti-poverty programs and initiatives designed to improve community livelihoods.
Coop Chamber Secretary General Edwin Bustillos provided an assessment of the organization’s Coop Vote advocacy and introduced proposed cooperative inputs to the Philippine Development Plan, which is currently undergoing recalibration.
Newly-elected One Coop Party List Representative Maria Kristina Glepa attended the assembly, pledging her support to champion cooperative welfare alongside the Coop Chamber and allied legislators in Congress. Coop Chamber President Noel Raboy delivered an inspirational message to the delegates, while Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Chairperson Alexander Raquepo offered a keynote address underscoring the CDA’s ongoing initiatives and commitments to the sector.
A significant outcome of the assembly was the election of the new Council of Leaders for the Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Coop Chamber:
- Regional Governor: Aurora Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative
- Regional Vice Governor: Batu Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
- Regional Secretary: Standard Micro-Credit Cooperative
- Regional Treasurer: Women Widow Apostolate of Pagadian City Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Regional Council Members:
- Micro-Entrepreneurs Multi-Purpose Cooperative
- Zamboanga del Norte Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative
- Peoples Microfinance Cooperative
- Naga Parish Cooperative
- Anonang Fish-Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
With renewed commitment and collaboration, Zamboanga’s cooperative leaders are poised to institutionalize mechanisms that will further empower their communities and advance sustainable development across the peninsula.
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