The Cooperatives and Social Enterprises Authority (CSEA) held a benchmarking activity on Thursday, Dec. 11 in General Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao del Sur, aiming to boost the capacity of coconut‑farmers’ cooperatives throughout the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The event showcased the practices of two thriving local groups – the Barangay Campo Bangsamoro Agriculture Cooperative and the Badak Multi‑Purpose Cooperative – and invited participants to emulate their approaches.
Fifty cooperative members from Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Basilan, Lanao del Sur and the Special Geographic Area attended, having completed a three‑day training on Dec. 8‑10 that focused on financial management and related skills.
CSEA Executive Director Samcia Ibrahim emphasized that improving financial management, record‑keeping, leadership and value formation remains the agency’s top priority. “I hope your operation continues and don’t give up. Together, let’s support this cooperative that we started,” she said, urging participants to sustain their efforts.
“I’m challenging everyone here to see what those patterns and practices our successful cooperatives have done,” Ibrahim added. “We are here to support you.”
One participant, Mohamad Ali Malaco, chairman of the Ummah Farmers Producers Cooperative in Brgy. Sifaran, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, expressed gratitude. Malaco, a former combatant of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, now leads a cooperative of 130 members founded in 2013. “This is a great advocacy that we can show, not only nationally but internationally – that the MILF [former] combatants are not only good at fighting but also good at running cooperatives,” he said, noting that cooperatives serve as small units of bureaucracy where the regional government’s principle of moral governance can emanate.
CSEA Chief of Cooperative Development Hayat Pilas said the activity reflects the agency’s shared commitment to advancing cooperative development and strengthening social enterprises in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the benchmarking activity?
The activity was designed to strengthen the capacity of coconut‑farmers’ cooperatives in BARMM by highlighting best practices from two successful local cooperatives and encouraging other groups to adopt similar methods.
Who participated in the event?
Fifty members from cooperatives in Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Basilan, Lanao del Sur and the Special Geographic Area participated, after completing a three‑day training on financial management.
What role did former MILF combatants play in the event?
Mohamad Ali Malaco, a former MILF combatant and chairman of the Ummah Farmers Producers Cooperative, attended and highlighted how former combatants are now leading cooperatives and contributing to the region’s moral governance.
How might these capacity‑building efforts shape the future of cooperative development in BARMM?
