5,000 attend the Cooperative Peace Forum in Cag. de Oro

Tuesday 15th of November 2011

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Nov. 15 (PIA) -- Some 5,000 leaders of cooperatives from all over the country converged at the Atrium, Lim Ket Kai Center for the Cooperative Peace Forum last Nov. 11.

The cooperatives have vowed to become instruments of social justice, sustainable development, equity and peace.

Acting Executive Director Orlando Ravanera of the Cooperative Development Authority, region 10 (CDA-10) said “where there is social injustice, there will always be conflict, where there is hunger, peace will remain an illusion."

He also said that the Muslims, Lumads (Indigenous Peoples), small farmers and fisher folk should be given the preferential rights in developing their respective resources.

Their cooperatives must also be given license, franchise and whatever privilege that will help them handle key economic activities, he added.

Ravanera said this was based on the universal principle that "the use of the God-given resources should accrue to the benefit of the bulk of the people and not just for a few." (CDA-10/PIA-10)