Underscoring the critical role of cooperatives as engines of inclusive growth and development, the Cooperative Chamber participated as a panelist in the Philippine Poverty Reduction Summit 2025 (PPRS25) held on July 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas, Quezon City.
The summit, organized by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), brought together over 500 delegates and coincided with NAPC’s 27th founding anniversary. With the theme “Convergence Toward a Single-Digit Poverty Incidence by 2028,” the event featured plenary and breakout sessions focused on harnessing cross-sector partnerships to accelerate poverty reduction.
Representing the Coop Chamber, Secretary General Edwin Bustillos delivered a presentation highlighting the Chamber’s role, organizational overview, and its executive and legislative agenda in advancing a collaborative, whole-of-nation approach to poverty alleviation. He emphasized the importance of leveraging network linkages and forging stronger partnerships with the private sector to drive sustainable development in communities nationwide.
Mr. Elvin Ivan Uy of the Philippine Business for Social Progress served as the main speaker, sharing several impactful initiatives that demonstrate effective collaboration between government and private sector actors in addressing poverty.
The panel of reactors included representatives from Manila Water Company, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), the NAPC Non-Government Organizations Sectoral Council (NGOSC), and the Coop Chamber. Together, the panel discussed strategies to create more responsive programs and broaden stakeholder engagement in poverty reduction efforts.
Through its participation, the Coop Chamber reaffirmed its commitment to position cooperatives as proactive partners of both government and private sector institutions, ensuring that the voices and interests of cooperative members are heard and integrated in the nation’s development agenda.
