Big cooperatives in the province of Antique are being urged to help their small counterparts so that these may also grow and become successful.

Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Assistant Secretary Virgilio Lazaga on Tuesday said big cooperatives, which have an asset of above PHP100 million, became successful because of the dedication, hard work, coordination, collaboration and teamwork of its officers and members.

He said these values must be emulated by small cooperatives, which have an asset of PHP3 to PHP15 million.

“If you think you are already big, help the small cooperatives so that they may also be ready to face the challenges,” Lazaga said in his message as keynote speaker at the 1st Cooperative Day held as part of the Binirayan Festival at the Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park here.

He said Antique is being considered as the “Cooperative Capital of Western Visayas” because these enterprises thrive in the province.

Two of them, the Barbaza and Bugasong Multi-Purpose Cooperatives, are considered billionaires in terms of assets.

Rep. Felimon Espares of the Cooperative-National Confederation of Cooperatives (Coop-NATCCO) Party-list, also said in the event that the Cooperative Day celebration is an opportunity for the cooperatives to strengthen their commitment as partners of the government and the private sector in working for the development of their communities.

“Let the cooperatives be consistent and an insatiable partner of local government units for sustainable development,” he said.

Likewise, Espares said these enterprises should amplify cooperation, self-help and mutual support for the socio-economic well-being of their members and their communities.

Espares was awarded as “Antique’s Pride” or “Bugal kang Antique” by the provincial government last Dec. 16.

Meanwhile, Feliro Questorio, Antique Provincial Cooperative Development Specialist II, said there are around 100 cooperatives in the province and the big ones could assist the small ones by infusing financial assistance as an additional capitalization with lower interest rates, less documentary requirements and longer payment scheme than in commercial banks or other existing private institutions.

“Whenever there are trainings or seminars or fora that require registration and lodging for the participants, the big cooperatives could help assume the financial obligations for the small coops to be able to avail such considering their meager resources,” he said.

Questorio said the big cooperatives could help expand the market scope of clientele of the small cooperatives through referrals. (PNA)