KEYNOTE SPEECH OF VICE PRESIDENT NOLI DE CASTRO

GAWAD PITAK AND GAWAD
ENTREPRENEUR AWARDING CEREMONY

AUGUST 19, 2005

(AMENITIES…)

MGA MIYEMBRO NG LUPON NG MGA HURADO PARA SA TAUNANG GAWAD PITAK AT GAWAD ENTREPRENEUR; AT  MGA OPISYAL AT MIYEMBRO NG MGA KOOPERATIBA AT MALILIIT NA NEGOSYANTE NA PARARANGALAN NGAYONG UMAGA magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

Ikinagagalak kong makasama ang mga pinakamagagaling na kooperatiba at negosyante na nagtunggali para sa taunang “Gawad PITAK at Gawad Entrepreneur”  ng LANDBANK.

Karapat-dapat lamang na kayo ay bigyang parangal dahil sa laki ng inyong tulong sa pagpapalago ng ating ekonomiya.  NAPAKAHALAGA NG INYONG PAPEL LALO NA SA PAGPAPATUPAD NG PANGUNAHING LAYUNIN NG ADMINISTRASYON NG PANGULONG GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO NA MAKAPAGBIGAY NG PAGKAIN SA BAWAT MESA, TRABAHO PARA SA ATING MGA KABABAYAN AT MAGING ANG PAGKAKAROON NG MGA MAHAHALAGANG IMPRASTRAKTURA NA KAILANGAN PARA SA MABILIS NA PAG-UNLAD NG ATING LOKAL NA EKONOMIYA. 

 
In these times when skepticism and weariness seem to surround many of our fellow Filipinos, it is very uplifting to learn about the stories of these simple men and women who took it upon themselves to rise above difficulties.  By pooling your strengths, talents and resources, you have proven that, indeed, nothing is impossible when people are united and driven by a sense of purpose higher than one’s own interest.    

cooperativism and development

Natutuwa ako at lalo pang lumalaganap ang samahang kooperatiba sa ating bansa. marami pa rin ang naniniwala SA ating sariling pagsisikap. dito mismo sa ating sariling bakuran, narito ang  pagkakataong umunlad at magkaroon ng masaganang buhay.

Salamat sa tulong at gabay ng mga institusyong katulad ng LANDBANK --- nagiging maayos ang pagpapatakbo ng ating mga kooperatiba.  kabilang na siyempre ang mga narito ngayon at kasama natin dito sa Malacanang.

I wish to particularly cite LANDBANK’s capability-building PROGRAM and technical support services.  I understand that these are major components of LANDBANK’s assistance to cooperatives. By offering these services, you are helping them become self-reliant economic units. by improving their management skills, you are also able TO  increase their absorptive capacity.

Another laudable program is your continuing implementation of the Cooperative Accreditation Criteria or CAC which is based on the seven pillars of cooperativism. your practice of rating cooperatives annually and classifying them according to maturity levels encourage our cooperatives to graduate to higher levels of accreditation as incentive for getting more loans.  this system also encourages them to work towards self-improvement.

May higit na animnapung libong kooperatiba ang naitatag na sa ating bansa. Ngunit ayon sa COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OR CDA, halos kalahati o tatlumpung libo lamang sa mga ito ang aktibo. Kung ating susuriin, karamihan din sa mga miyembro nito ay walang pormal na pagsasanay sa pagpapatakbo ng kooperatiba.

subalit hindi ito naging sagabal sa kanilang pag-unlad.  tingnan na lang natin ang grand price winner sa agri-based category, ang landan multipurpose cooperative.  meron silang assets na umabot sa 115 MILLION PESOS at mahigit 1,100 miyembrong magsasaka at maliliit na negosyante.  sa kanilang pagsusumikap, marami sa kanilang miyembro ang pumasok sa pineapple production at sa iba pang livelihood activities na nagbigay ng dagdag na kita para sa kanilang mga pamilya.

isa pang halimbawa ang St. Jude Multi-purpose Cooperative, ang winner sa Non-agri based category. meron na silang assets na 107 MILLION PESOS at mahigit tatlong libong miyembro sa lucena city. naging matagumpay ang kooperatibang ito sa kanilang mga pinasok na negosyo at sa kanilang pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa komunidad.

it seems that our cooperatives are now entering the multi-millonaires club.  Indeed, there are many inspiring success stories of cooperatives. Whether in big cities or remote municipalities, many cooperatives have become effective tools in uplifting the lives of our people.  these cooperatives have become true vehicles of people empowerment and social justice.

sme and the economy

The contribution of small and medium enterprises, on the other hand, is also something that deserves to be emphasized. sme’s employ 69.9 percent of our total labor force. they are the silent movers of our economy, even in the face of crisis.

sme’s take advantage of the Filipinos unique craftsmanship and ingenuity in using locally available resources.

This year’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Asia Embroidery, Inc., has been a vehicle for showcasing THAT Filipino creativity and artistry are at par with international standards. In fact, I believe that all the SME’s we honor today are outstanding examples of hard work, patience, keen business sense, effective management skills, and international competitiveness.

I AM HAPPY TO NOTE THAT LANDBANK HAS BEEN ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THE COUNTRY’S SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES AND MICROENTREPRENEURS. YOUR EXPOSURE UNDER THE SULONG PROGRAM, WHICH EVEN EXCEEDED YOUR LOAN TARGETS, REFLECTS YOUR COMMITMENT TO BOOST THE SME SECTOR THROUGH TIMELY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

I hope that this recognition program of LANDBANK will harvest more successful SME clients like the ones we have here.  i ALSO hope that these awards will inspire others to dare, to take the risk, and to become globally-competitive entrepreneurs.

finding hope in the filipino

IN CLOSING, I WISH TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE WINNERS OF LANDBANK’S GAWAD PITAK AND GAWAD ENTREPRENEUR. MAY YOU CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE AND LIVE UP TO THE IDEALS THAT COME WITH THIS PRESTIGIOUS HONOR.

let me also congratulate LANDBANK on its 42^nd year of unwavering commitment to countryside development.  Now more than ever, our country needs financial institutions like LANDBANK --- AN INSTITUTION  commitTED  to THE VISION OF honING THE talents and capabilities OF OUR PEOPLE.

nahaharap man tayo sa matinding pagsubok, tumaas man nang tumaas ang presyo ng langis, magsigawan man araw-araw sa kongreso at sa mass media, patuloy sana tayong magsumikap na isulong ang kaunlaran NG ATING BANSA. patuloy sana tayong makakita ng pag-asa sa ating kapwa pilipino.

Katulad na rin ng karanasan ng mga kooperatiba at maliliit na negosyante, nakasalalay sa ating sipag at tibay ng loob ang ating mithiing makabangon at tuluyang umunlad.

Magsama-sama tayo upang ang ating pinagbuklod na lakas ay magsilbing pundasyon ng isang maunlad at tahimik na pilipinas.

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.  

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