NINE registered and accredited cooperatives in the province were granted a total of P2.7 million by the provincial government of Agusan del Sur to improve the current status of their operations and share in the development as part of their community obligation.

The nine cooperatives received P300,000 each, and were personally handed to them by Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. assisted by Vice Gov. Sammy Tortor and some members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during the Monday flag raising ceremony at the Provincial Capitol lobby in Patin-ay, Prosperidad.

The distribution of the financial capital is the realization of the implementation of the Sustainable Cooperative Operation Performance Enhancement (SCOPE) project under the Provincial Agriculture Office headed by Armando Valiente, the Provincial Agriculturist.

The receipients are: Katipunan Agricultural Farmers Association (KAFA) of Katipunan, Bayugan City; Sta. Irene Resilience Agriculture Cooperative (SIRAC) of Sta. Irene, Prosperidad; Sta. Josefa Consumer Cooperative (SJCC) of San Jose, Sta. Josefa; Kasuonan Farmers Producer Cooperative (KAFAPCO) of Sta. Emelia, Veruela; Remedios Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (REFAMCO) of Remedios, Esperanza; Eastern Mindanao Conference Cooperative (EMCC) of Barangay 5, San Francisco; Barangay Sta. Maria Water Service Cooperative (BASAMAWASCO) of Sta. Maria, Trento; First Trento Community Multipurpose Cooperative (FITCO MPC) of Poblacion, Trento; and Magaud Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative of Magaud, Loreto.

In interviews conducted by PTV-Agusan del Sur with the leaders of the recipient cooperatives, almost all of them said they will do their best to improve the performance of their respective cooperatives by acquiring the tools and machineries that are badly needed in their operations in order to improve their production. For FITCO MPC of Trento, they will use their financial aid as capital to improve the marketing activities of their cooperative. (with reports from Jireh Saludar of PPIO-PTV-Agusan del Sur)