One Year to Gold: NATCCO Concluded its 49th General Assembly and 24th Leaders’ Congress in Iloilo City

NATCCO gathered 1,038 cooperative leaders from across the Philippines for its 49th General Assembly and 24th Leaders’ Congress from May 1 to 3, 2026, at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICON) in Iloilo City. After seven years, NATCCO returned to the city of Love, Iloilo, for its 49th assembly.

The highly anticipated event ran under the theme “One Year to Gold: Our Co-op Identity – The Power Behind Innovation and Impact”. As NATCCO counted down to its 50th “Golden” Anniversary in 2027, the assembly’s core focus was on the “Golden Thread” of Integration, a push to bind the federation into a stronger, unified network through standardized operations and shared systems.

Day 1: Opening, Inspiration, and Recognition (May 1)

The three-day event was packed with activities designed to inspire, educate, and unify the cooperative movement. On May 1, the assembly officially kicked off with the Opening Program. Ms. Elisabet Fadul, Head of Programme and Acting Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Philippines, delivered the Keynote Message. Her message emphasized the role of cooperatives in serving as a backbone for food security, climate resilience, and inclusive development, especially in the local communities. The impact of co-ops services to the members was highlighted by the messages of Usec Alexander Raquepo of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Rayne Heart Pastrana, Aflatoun Member from Guimaras Brethren MPC and Liezel and Alan Corsame, Entrepreneur-members of DCCCO Multi-Purpose Cooperative. The day further made exciting with the NATCCO Cooperative Member Annual Awards, recognizing top-performing cooperatives in various categories, followed by a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Strategic Plenaries and Democratic Governance (May 2)

On May 2, delegates dived into critical co-op discussions through two major plenary sessions. Plenary Session 1 featured Balasubramanian “Balu” Iyer, Regional Director of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) – Asia and the Pacific, discussing “Driving Local and Global Impact: Powering NATCCO’s Golden Era through ICA Strategy”. The panel was moderated by Elenita San Roque, the CEO of ACCU. The session was further supported by the insights and reactions of Cong. Felimon Espares who focused on the pillar of Promote, Asec Luz Yringco who shared insights on the pillar of Protect, and Atty. Edilberito Euraoba who shared his co-op experiences on the pillar of Practice. As NATCCO approaches its “One Year to Gold,” the organization is leveraging its massive scale -1,078 cooperatives, 7.6 million members, and over PHP 420 billion in assets – to lead a new era of impact. To maximize influence, NATCCO aligns with the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) strategy under the principle of “one strategy for one movement”. This framework focuses on five pillars: building membership, promoting inclusion, enabling supportive policies, strengthening networks, and advancing competitiveness. A central focus of this transformation is ensuring that cooperative identity and democratic governance actively drive economic scale. By practicing these core values and ensuring strong execution with accountable leadership, NATCCO can transition from local strength to global influence, delivering tangible improvements to members’ well-being.

The Plenary 2 session emphasized the critical digital evolution of Philippine cooperatives. A mixed-methods study by Dr. Jeremaiah Opiniano, Edward Lacsina, and Lasalette Gumban, revealed that while members value digital services for their speed and convenience, traditional in-person transactions remain highly relevant for saving, investing, and repaying loans The research noted a distinct generational divide: younger members prefer digital platforms, whereas older members favor face-to-face service. Therefore, cooperatives are encouraged to partner with FinTech firms to enhance operations rather than view them as competition. To navigate this disruption, the NATCCO Digital Transformation Strategy 2030 was presented as a “human-centric and values-driven” roadmap. With rising competition from digital banks and super-platforms, cooperatives face a clear mandate: “go digital.”

The afternoon was dedicated to the General Assembly Proper, which included the presentation of candidates and NATCCO’s performance for 2025. The day ended with a tropical-themed Solidarity Night and Co-op NATCCO Party List Hour.

Day 3: Leadership Transition, Financial Inclusion, and Call to Action (May 3)

Following a Holy Mass, the Induction and Turn-Over Ceremony took place. Outgoing Chairperson Maria Nelia Rafaela G. De Leon officially passed the gavel to the newly elected Chairperson, Romulo Dex Lumawig of Pandan MPC.

Plenary Session 3 featured Atty. Charina B. De Vera-Yap, Managing Director at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), discussing “The Inclusion Roadmap: Moving from Financial Access to Financial Impact”. The BSP presented “The Inclusion Roadmap,” shifting its focus from simple financial access to lasting financial impact and overall financial health. This vision relies on three pillars: Financial Inclusion, Financial Education, and Financial Protection, reinforced by laws like the Financial Consumer Protection Act. Guided by the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2022-2028, the BSP actively works to overcome ongoing challenges such as digital infrastructure gaps and rising financial fraud. Central to bridging these gaps is the cooperative sector, which includes over 20,900 cooperatives serving 13.6 million members. Utilizing the “Cooperative Multiplier Model,” cooperatives deliver financial education, digital payment solutions, and affordable credit directly to “last mile” communities, including farmers, fisherfolk, and microentrepreneurs. The session was enriched by the reactions of Sylvia O. Paraguya, NATCCO CEO, and Reinhold Hoernle, DGRV Project Director and Authorized Representative for the Philippines.

The event culminated with a powerful motivational message on leadership and service from award-winning broadcast journalist and academic, Kara David, who highlighted how the Filipino values of Bayanihan (communal unity) and Malasakit (compassion) intertwine with cooperative principles. NATCCO CEO Sylvia O. Paraguya delivered the final Synthesis and Call to Action, closing the event on a hopeful note.

The 49th General Assembly served as a decisive step toward deep integration. It ensured that as NATCCO approaches its golden jubilee, its resources are maximized, risks are shared, and cooperatives nationwide are empowered to actively lead through change rather than just respond to it.