{"id":3729,"date":"2026-07-04T04:26:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T04:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/?p=3729"},"modified":"2026-07-04T04:26:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T04:26:15","slug":"coop-chamber-rallies-behind-2026-global-theme-empowering-cooperatives-as-anchors-of-peace-and-economic-justice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/?p=3729","title":{"rendered":"COOP CHAMBER RALLIES BEHIND 2026 GLOBAL THEME: EMPOWERING COOPERATIVES AS ANCHORS OF PEACE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>July 3, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>MANILA, PHILIPPINES<\/strong> \u2013 The Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber) formally declares its unwavering support for the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives global theme: <strong>&#8220;Cooperatives for a Peaceful World!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the global community navigates an era of complex economic adjustments, ecological shifts, and social challenges, the Coop Chamber emphasizes that true, lasting peace is built on the foundation of economic democracy, social equity, and community resilience, principles that define the cooperative movement. In alignment with the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) as member, the Coop Chamber is actively channeling this year&#8217;s theme into the core pillars of the global <strong>2026\u20132030 Strategic Plan: <em>&#8220;Practice, Promote and Protect,&#8221;<\/em><\/strong> proving that the cooperative framework is an essential fixture of modern, peaceful societies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice, equity, and shared prosperity,&#8221; says <strong>Noel D. Raboy<\/strong>, Chairperson of the Coop Chamber. &#8220;When people have democratic control over their livelihoods, when wealth is distributed equitably, and when communities cooperate rather than compete for basic survival, stability naturally follows. Our primary cooperatives across the Philippines are living proof that inclusive business models are the ultimate anchors of peace, giving life to the ICA&#8217;s global Agenda for Positive Peace.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A Proven Model for Resilience and Harmony<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cooperative model fundamentally counters the root causes of social unrest \u2013 poverty, exclusion, and economic vulnerability. By prioritizing people over profit, cooperatives ensure that marginalized sectors, from smallholder farmers to transport workers and local consumers, have a powerful voice and an equitable stake in the nation&#8217;s growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Guided by the global cooperative identity, the Coop Chamber highlights three critical pillars where the movement drives peace:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Economic Democracy:<\/strong> Giving everyday citizens direct ownership and decision-making power in financial, agricultural, and utility sectors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Social Safety Nets &amp; Solidarity:<\/strong> Mobilizing resources swiftly during crises, such as regional natural disasters or economic disruptions, ensuring no community is left to recover alone while advancing inclusive opportunities for women and youth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Inclusive Modernization:<\/strong> Partnering constructively with the state to transition vital sectors, like public transport and agriculture, ensuring progress uplifts workers rather than displacing them through the adoption of secure digital tools and sustainable practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Direct Political Engagement: A Unified Agenda for Cooperative Solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To protect these vital pillars and aggressively champion cooperative solutions for the country&#8217;s most pressing socioeconomic challenges, the Coop Chamber utilizes a model of direct political engagement. Grounded in the <strong>4th Cooperative Principle of Autonomy and Independence<\/strong>, the cooperative movement recognizes that its political voice must remain focused, strong, and independent. Rather than aligning with shifting, partisan political factions, the Coop Chamber mobilizes its vast, nationwide membership to engage directly with lawmakers, candidates, and administrative bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By asserting the collective strength of the &#8220;Coop Vote&#8221; and putting forward a concrete, non-negotiable <strong>Cooperative Agenda<\/strong>, the Chamber actively drives public policy. This structural approach ensures that whichever administration takes power, the cooperative model is treated not merely as a safety net, but as the primary legislative solution to modern systemic issues, ranging from public utility overhauls to agricultural modernization and localized wealth generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A Call for Institutional Collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In alignment with the global theme, the Coop Chamber calls for a deeper, more collaborative partnership between the state, the private sector, and the cooperative movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Edwin A. Bustillos<\/strong>, Secretary General of the Coop Chamber, underlines the critical weight of this direct engagement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;To build a peaceful world, we must actively fortify the institutions that protect the vulnerable. Direct political engagement is our mechanism to ensure that our lawmakers and regulatory bodies continue fostering an environment where cooperatives can thrive without unnecessary friction. Championing policies that protect agricultural safety nets and secure the financial viability of our modernized transport sector is a direct investment in our national peace and stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The bottom line is simple: for the cooperative movement, political engagement is an act of self-determination. We do not seek partisan favors; we demand that the state recognizes the social and solidarity economy as a distinct, vital sector. The complex problems facing the Philippines today, inflation, supply chain vulnerabilities, and sector displacements, require cooperative solutions that put people over profit. We will ensure the cooperative voice has a permanent, respected, and influential seat at the legislative table.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the country celebrates the global cooperative movement this year, the Coop Chamber reaffirms its dedication to uniting primary cooperatives nationwide. Together, we stand ready to show the world how cooperative values turn the vision of a harmonious, equitable society into a daily reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>NOEL D. RABOY<\/strong><br>Chairperson, Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EDWIN A. BUSTILLOS<\/strong><br>Secretary General, Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Media Contact:<\/strong><br><strong>Edwin A. Bustillos<\/strong><br>Secretariat, Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber)<br>Email: <a href=\"mailto:coopchamber.ph@gmail.com\">coopchamber.ph@gmail.com<\/a> \/ <a href=\"mailto:edwin.bustillos1010@gmail.com\">edwin.bustillos1010<\/a>@gmail.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mobile: 09178017309<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PRESS RELEASE July 3, 2026 MANILA, PHILIPPINES \u2013 The Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber) formally declares its unwavering support for the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives global theme: &#8220;Cooperatives for a Peaceful World!&#8221; As the global community navigates an era of complex economic adjustments, ecological shifts, and social challenges, the Coop Chamber emphasizes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"PhChamberCoop","author_link":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/?author=1"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/?cat=1\" rel=\"category\">Uncategorized<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"PRESS RELEASE July 3, 2026 MANILA, PHILIPPINES \u2013 The Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber) formally declares its unwavering support for the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives global theme: &#8220;Cooperatives for a Peaceful World!&#8221; As the global community navigates an era of complex economic adjustments, ecological shifts, and social challenges, the Coop Chamber emphasizes&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3729"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3730,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3729\/revisions\/3730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coopchamberph.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}