The Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives Inc. is organizing more than three million member-owners into a unified, non-partisan voting bloc ahead of the 2028 elections, seeking to turn the cooperative sector’s economic weight into political influence.
The chamber, which represents primary cooperatives through 16 regional chambers from the Cordillera Administrative Region to Caraga, will launch its “Coop Vote” and Senatorial Project 2028 during its third National Leadership Congress.
Under the initiative, the group will assess and support candidates, including those from the cooperative sector, who commit to policies and legislation favorable to cooperatives.
“The Cooperative Vote is not about seeking partisan favors; it is an exercise in democratic self-determination,” Coop Chamber Chairperson Noel D. Raboy said.
The effort reflects the chamber’s push to give cooperatives a more organized voice in national policymaking, particularly on legislation, budgets, and economic reforms affecting their members.
Secretary General Edwin A. Bustillos said a disciplined legislative bloc would help ensure that the livelihoods and interests of cooperative members are considered in national policy decisions.
The chamber’s 2026-2028 legislative agenda includes protecting the “One Member, One Vote” principle in primary cooperatives and institutionalizing “One Coop, One Vote” in federations.
It also plans to defend statutory tax exemptions under the Philippine Cooperative Code and seek legislation requiring local governments to establish cooperative development funds and appoint dedicated cooperative development officers.
Other priorities include procurement preferences for agricultural and agrarian reform cooperatives, as well as targeted support for transport modernization and utility cooperatives.
Vice Chairperson Marlene Sindayen said equal voting rights are critical to ensuring that smaller cooperatives, women leaders, and rural communities retain a meaningful voice in shaping economic policy.
The chamber said it will pursue its legislative agenda in coordination with the Cooperative Development Authority, Congress, national government agencies, and local governments.
With millions of members spread across the country, the cooperative sector is now seeking to convert its numerical strength into a more coordinated policy voice. The 2028 elections will provide its first major test of whether that collective voice can carry beyond the cooperative movement and into national governance.
