RP's biggest group of cooperatives endorses Gordon

MANILA, Philippines -  The country’s biggest group of cooperatives has thrown its support behind the presidential bid of Bagumbayan bet Sen. Richard Gordon.

In a statement, the 10-million strong Cooperative Union of the Philippines, through its secretary-general Felix Borja, said it has also entered into a covenant with Gordon “to complement each other’s efforts to bring about a better quality of life to the masses of people with limited means.”

Borja and Gordon signed the covenant last Sunday during the 19th General Assembly of the Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Pinamungahan, Cebu attended by more than 3,000 cooperative members and leaders.

Lamac, a multi-awarded cooperative, is the biggest cooperative in the Visayas with more than 46,000 members in Cebu province alone.

“Sen. Gordon is the most qualified presidential candidate because of his record of leadership, integrity and competence. We believe he is the only one who can help the cooperative sector because he is the only candidate who has the track record to make things happen,” Borja said.

“Sen. Gordon is the intelligent and competent alternative to the ‘politics of personalities’ that has marred the country’s presidential elections in the 24 years after martial law. And his intelligence and competence is accompanied by his big heart for the poor,” he added.

Gordon also graced the launching of CUP’s sunflower development project in the Visayas, considered a long-term and sustainable agricultural stimulus program that would convert about 600,000 hectares of unutilized and marginalized agricultural lands nationwide into productive use.

Borja said CUP’s endorsement of Gordon does not violate the sector’s non-partisan character but “actually reinforces our political obligation to choose the leaders whom we feel will help us attain the development goals of the sector.”

“Cooperatives in other countries are able to elect their leaders into office. It is high time for cooperative members to let their voices be heard in the country’s electoral exercises,” Borja said.