Coop groups endorse Migs

MANILA, Philippines - United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidate Migz Zubiri yesterday thanked six cooperative groups for supporting his bid in the May elections.

“I am humbled and privileged to be able to receive such an overwhelming support from the sector so dearly close to my heart,” Zubiri said during the launching of the 1-Coop Movement held at Club Filipino in San Juan.

The 1-Coop Movement is a multi-sectoral alliance of six party-list cooperative groups, with nationwide membership of more than 10 million.  These are Agap, Apec, Ating Koop, Binhi, Butil and Coop-Natco.

“No politicians or candidates had ever been as steadfast, committed, and passionate an advocate of the cooperative sector as senator Migz Zubiri. As a neophyte senator back in 2007, he reinvigorated and empowered the cooperatives through the passage of Republic Act 9520 or the new Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008,” said Cesar Cortes, co-convenor of the 1-Coop Movement.

Previous Congresses worked to strengthen the cooperative sector. However, it failed to pass the new Coop Code until Zubiri filed a bill amending the Philippine Cooperative Code, which was eventually passed and became a law in 2008.