BAGUIO City Councilor Lilia Fariñas, who is also the chairperson of the Committee on Social Services, Women and Urban Poor, is pushing for the creation of an Urban Poor Cooperative in the City of Baguio.
In her proposal, Fariñas stated that the local government must seek means to convene into one federation the urban poor and at the same time devise ways to uplift them towards a more progressive condition, and provide them with basic necessities for a decent life.
Urban Poor refers to individuals or families in urban areas with an income below the poverty line as defined by the National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB). They are the underprivileged or homeless sector of society, the unemployed, underemployed and the irregularly employed. They are also those who are incapable of meeting the minimum basic needs.
In 2009, Article 2 of Republic Act No. 9520 entitled “An Act Amending the Cooperative Code of the Philippines to be known as the ‘Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008’ was enacted. It provides that, “It is declared policy of the State to foster the creation and growth of cooperatives as a practical vehicle for promoting self-reliance and harnessing people power towards the attainment of economic development and social justice.”
It further continues to declare that, “The State shall encourage the private sector to undertake the actual formation and organization of cooperatives and shall create an atmosphere that is conducive to the growth and development of these cooperatives.”
If approved, the amount of P1 million shall be appropriated from available funds of the city, or so much thereof, as may be determined by the Cooperative Development Authority, in order to jumpstart the initial phase that the ordinance intends to establish.