The Philippine Co-operative Enterprises towards sustainable development: a perception study
Quilloy, Karen P1, Pabuayon, Isabelita M2.
In the International Co-operative Alliance 2020 Vision, co-operatives are envisioned to
become the acknowledged leader in economic, social and environmental sustainability, the
model preferred by people, and the fastest growing form of enterprise by 2020. With less than
a decade left for this vision, it is important to realize where the co-operatives are now in terms
of promoting progress towards sustainable development. This country study aimed to examine
the contributions and impacts that co-operatives in the Philippines have created to advance
sustainability in the four pillars of development – “people, planet, prosperity, and peace”, at
micro level. Key findings showed that the co-operatives have carried out initiatives promoting
sustainability among its members and their communities. However, the extent of such impacts
was perceived to be limited due to some constraints, which include inadequate support services,
weak organizational structure, and inadequate or lack of entrepreneurial and managerial skills.
In view of these problems, strategic actions recommended were: (i) developing a definite policy
framework for co-operative enterprise development; (ii) improving access to support services
with focus on financial services; (iii) enhancing human resource skills through education and
professionalization; and (iv) strengthening networks and linkages of the co-operative sector.
Affiliation:
- University of the Philippines, Philippines
- University of the Philippines, Philippines
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