The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), with the assistance of the Community Services Department (CSD) held the Cooperative Township Movement Project Presentation last 18 September 2018 at at the Audio Visual Room of the AFAB Administration Building, FAB, Mariveles, Bataan.

In attendance were Cooperative Development Authority Region III Director Marieta P. Hwang, Head of Bataan Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office (PCEDO) Azucena E. Sugatain, Sakomi Federation of Cooperatives Chairperson Mila Macaraig, and Cooperative Township Project Chairperson Rolando R. Cruz. Also present were representatives from registered Mariveles cooperatives and Human Resource Officers from FAB registered enterprises.

The Cooperative (Co-op) Township Project endeavors to promote the progressive transformation of Mariveles into a sustainable and self-reliant community that is able to address and provide for the basic needs of its residents through the aid and sustenance of the cooperatives.

Ms. Hwang explained that the project’s aims are pursuant to the long-term vision of the country dubbed as Ambisyon 2040 where Filipinos are envisioned to achieve their aspiration of a “matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay.”

Ms. Sugatain on the other hand, commended the exemplary performance of the cooperatives in Mariveles lauding that out of the 25 co-ops, 21 are already identified as multimillionaire cooperatives. She added that the provincial government recognizes the significant economic contribution of the co-ops to the province of Bataan.

During the program, presenters from invited cooperatives were given the chance to introduce their policies, programs, products and most importantly their services; as one of the agenda of the program was to encourage FAB enterprises to engage partnership with local co-ops for furthering membership expansion in Mariveles, Bataan.

AFAB