Actor Robin Padillla, who will run as senator in the May elections said he will focus on “strengthening the Cooperative Development Authority.”
“Let’s increase (CDA) funding and expand its programs and services so as to help cooperatives, especially agricultural cooperatives),” he said.
He also said he will focus on how to “strengthen the relationship and collaboration of government agencies led by the CDA with the Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies so that we have a whole of government approach in meeting the needs of agricultural cooperatives).”
He said one solution is to “craft a comprehensive plan on how to strengthen agricultural cooperatives.”
Other measures proposed by Padilla include: increasing access to financing of cooperatives, opening “special windows for cooperatives” in banks and financial institutions, and enhancing developmental programs for cooperatives; and strengthening the role of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to simplify the processes and requirements for services and programs for cooperatives.
Padilla also said another measure he will focus on is the “systematic integration of cooperativism in education and the establishment of cooperatives from primary to technical and higher education so that the young Filipinos can learn entrepreneurship and the principles of cooperatives.”
