Tabuk City may soon become the “Cooperative City of the Philippines” amid ongoing CDA validation

Tabuk City — The capital city of Kalinga may soon be recognized as the “Cooperative City of the Philippines” as validation activities for the possible recognition are currently ongoing, announced James Edduba during the Kalinga PLGU’s flag raising ceremony this week.

Tabuk City, as reported by Lee T. Uera of the City Cooperative Enterprise and Development Office during the anniversary celebration of the Provincial Engineering Office Personnel Multi-purpose Cooperative (PEOPMPC) on October 31, 2025, houses more than 130 cooperatives with a combined membership of 180,794 individuals.

Prior to Uera’s announcement during the event attended by GURU Press Cordillera, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) had already reported the creation of a Technical Working Group in June 2025 through Board Resolution No. 110, series of 2025.

The group was tasked to formulate guidelines for the recognition of a cooperative city, province, or municipality, with special mention of Tabuk City and Kalinga Province.

According to the CDA’s report dated June 9, 2025, validation activities and consultations were conducted in the city from June 4 to 5.

The agency explained that cooperatives in Tabuk and Kalinga are not only sources of livelihood and income but also help communities address poverty, inequality, and other social concerns through collective participation and community-based programs.

“…being a cooperative society, it responds to the needs of the community and addresses economic and environmental challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change by fostering inclusive growth, social cohesion, and environmental stewardship, more than just being a driver of economic development,” the CDA stated.

During the flag-raising ceremony of the Provincial Government of Kalinga on Monday, May 25, Governor Edduba disclosed that the validation for the possible recognition remains ongoing.

“Baka maideclare ti Tabuk City as the cooperative city of the Philippines nu kasanu didjay. Ongoing sa met ti validation da pailang,” Edduba shared.

He added that one of the observed reasons behind the strong cooperative movement in Tabuk is the high membership participation among residents.

“Nu apay gamin nga kua ket gamin ti data ditoy, in every family, especially in Tabuk, ket kasla they are members of 4-5 cooperatives. Maysa nga rason siguro ket daytoy mortuary. Isu siguro maysa rason nu apay adu agmembers ti cooperative,” he said.

The governor, however, clarified that the recognition has yet to be finalized as the CDA continues to formulate the official guidelines for recognizing cooperative cities, provinces, and municipalities.