On 10th October 2020, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) participated in an online forum organized by the Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC) to discuss how cooperatives have been supporting and can further support the five overlapping themes of the International Cooperative Alliance’s Blueprint Strategy, particularly in the context of the current pandemic. The forum presented yet another timely session that will help determine where the Philippine cooperative movement is headed; most especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the five pillars of the ICA Blueprint - participation, sustainability, capital, identity, and legal framework—deeply embedded among members and stakeholders in the movement, the main concern is how to redefine and reinforce these pillars in these times of uncertainty.

It saw the online participation of ICA President Ariel Guarco from Argentina and, from India, ICA Regional Director-Asia-Pacific Balu Iyer. The event had a live feed courtesy of RTVM, wherein Philippine Cooperative Centre CEO Edwin Bustillos, and PCC Board Member Zenaida Novabos, who co-anchored, expressed their heartfelt thanks to PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar for his support.

Zenaida Novabos cited it as ‘a priority for PCC, ICA, and the cooperative sector to get together and work together, with so much to do’, while FPSDC CEO Christie Rowena ‘Tetay’ Plantilla cheerfully called it truly “empowering and engaging”. She further stated – “such that even as the movement faces so many challenges, let us be guided by the ICA blueprint which is proactive and positive. If we work together on these five pillars, the cooperative community can move forward in its pursuit of a second cooperative decade, from 2020 to 2030 for which ICA has the lead role to play. It can be meaningful if we, as cooperatives indeed cooperate, engage, and work together”.

The summary of the discussions can be read here.