Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber) leaders formally launched the “Coop Vote” and presented the organization’s 2026–2028 Priority Executive and Legislative Agenda during an event at Diamond Hotel, Manila, on August 28, 2026. The gathering also highlighted the parameters of the Senatorial Project and key regulatory concerns, including ongoing discussions with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on cooperative tax exemptions.
The Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber) is convening its 3rd National Leadership Congress, bringing together cooperative leaders from 16 Regional Coop Chambers to strengthen the sector’s role in national policy and governance.
Under the theme “Economic Strength to Political Voice: Organizing the Cooperative Vote for National Governance,” the congress aims to transform the economic influence of millions of cooperative member-owners into a unified, non-partisan voice for policy advocacy.
A key focus is the Coop Chamber’s 2026–2028 Executive and Legislative Agenda, which calls for stronger protection of democratic governance through the “One Member, One Vote” and “One Coop, One Vote” principles, enforcement of cooperative tax exemptions, dedicated Local Cooperative Development Funds, and greater government support for agricultural, transport, and utility cooperatives.
From left to right: Edwin Bustillos, Secretary General; Noel Raboy, Chairperson; and Marlene Sindayen, Vice Chairperson/Trustee of the Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives, Inc. (Coop Chamber).
The group is also launching its Senatorial Project 2028, an initiative designed to engage and evaluate senatorial candidates based on their commitment to cooperative-friendly legislation. The organization says the effort will mobilize its more than 3 million voting base without aligning with political parties.
The congress also highlights collaboration with government agencies, including the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Congress committees on cooperatives, national government agencies, and local government units.
For the cooperative sector, the initiative seeks to demonstrate how organized grassroots economic participation can translate into stronger representation in policymaking, supporting goals related to poverty reduction, food security, and inclusive economic development.
