Scores of students of schools students, teachers and parents from different regions of the Philippines participated in the first ever conference on laboratory co-operatives in the city of Imus, that has earned the title of ‘Laboratory co-operative capital of the Philippines’ with 31300 student membership from 45 participating schools. The conference was organized from August 22-24 2018 and was co-organized by the Co-operative Development Authority (CDA), Local Council for the Protection of Children (City Government of Imus) and the Imus Co-operative Federation (ICF). Laboratory co-operatives are a phenomenon created by the CDA during the turn of the last decade when it introduced an enabling provision in the national co-operative legislation to promote youth inclusion and ‘cooperation among co-operatives’ in the country by legally recognizing student led saving clubs in schools created under the mentorship of local credit unions in the country.
Thumbs up with guest speakers Mayor Maliksi (center) & Dr. Emannuel Santiaguel!
Best practices from different regions were invited and experts on strengthening the legal environment for youth in co-operatives was discussed. The conference was also aimed at initiating concerted action towards the creation of a National Network for the Development of Laboratory Co-operatives and rules and bylaws of its service to the national movement. Hon’ble Emmanuel L. Maliksi, City Mayor of Imus presided as the Chief Guest while he inspired the conference with ideas on the potential of youth and youth led co-operatives in schools in nation building and in supporting the future of the national co-operative movement. ICA-AP delegation comprised of Sebastien Chaillou, Global Youth Representative, Ahsan Ali Thakur, Chairperson Regional Committee on Youth, Anis Sadah and Santosh Kumar of the youth secretariat, contributed to the conference by presenting knowledge, information and opportunities on ICA, its work with youth and the Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development. The Conference was mentored by Dr. Emmanuel Santiaguel, former chief of the Co-operative Development Authority. The national conference was concluded with signing of a crucial MoU between the different stakeholders engaged in the development of the laboratory co-operatives in the Philippines. This historic conference is indeed a reminder of a healthy eco-system in the Philippines for co-operatives to address key challenges like inter-generational sustainability, engagement and commerce among cooperatives, engagement with local authorities and Civil society towards SDGs, and leadership development. Student members can volunteer to join the guardian co-operative of their laboratory at reaching majority (18 years).
