“Pumigsa pay koma ti spirit of cooperativism”: Gov. Edduba pushes wider financing access to boost rural progress in Kalinga

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Governor James S. Edduba has called for stronger cooperatives and wider access to financing for farmers and other rural residents, saying these can help stimulate local economies and improve livelihoods.

Edduba made the call during the Credit Surety Fund (CSF) Roadshow and Contributors’ Seminar at the Kalinga Sports Center on October 21, emphasizing the importance of keeping money circulating within rural communities to generate economic opportunities.

“I remember when I was in the Senate, when I was simply a staff member of then-Senator Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She was the author of Kalakalan 20, and we were the technical staff at that time. This Kalakalan 20 is for rural areas. Part of that, when we were gathering data, was looking at places where cooperatives are very strong and where there are established financial institutions. Like our cooperatives and even associations, they can greatly help the community,” Edduba said.

He cited a cooperative in Pasil that grew from fewer than 20 members to more than 1,000, with assets reaching around ₱70 million, as an example of how cooperativism can strengthen rural communities.

“Daytoy ti kayat makita nga mas pumigsa pay koma ti spirit of cooperativism. Example ket diay Pasil, back then ket baka awan pay 20 members edi ket 1,000 plus ti members na tatta with a P70 million asset,” Edduba said.

He added that the circulation of money within rural communities could contribute significantly to local development.

“Dagitoy ti mangipakita nga nu adda agcirculate nga kuwarta iti ili, rural, ket dakkel nga makatulong nga mangted ti progreso,” he said.

Edduba expressed hope that the CSF program would help farmers and other residents gain easier access to financing to support their livelihoods.

“Su garud nga daytoy programa nga ipan yo ditoy Kalinga ket sapay koma ta mangted ti easy access kadagiti farmers tayo ken dagiti daduma nga kakailyan tapno karkaro nga matulungan da,” he said.

The CSF provides surety coverage to help qualified cooperatives and micro, small, and medium enterprises obtain bank loans even when they lack sufficient collateral. The program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 10744, or the Credit Surety Fund Cooperative Act of 2015, which designated the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as its lead implementing agency.

Meanwhile, data presented by Senior Cooperative Development Specialist Dr. Lotes Lab-oyan showed that Kalinga had 209 registered cooperatives as of September 2026, up from 206 in 2025.

The cooperatives’ combined assets reached ₱8.04 billion, an increase of about ₱454.3 million from ₱7.59 billion recorded in 2025. However, cooperative membership declined to 129,274 from 133,850 during the same period.

Tabuk City accounted for the bulk of the province’s reported cooperative assets, with more than ₱7.5 billion.

The roadshow and seminar gathered government officials and cooperative representatives to discuss ways to improve access to financing for cooperatives and businesses. The activity also included the signing of a memorandum of agreement among participating stakeholders as part of Kalinga’s observance of Cooperative Month.

Edduba said he hopes stronger cooperatives and improved access to financing will help rural residents build resources, sustain their livelihoods, and contribute to the province’s economic progress.