ZAMBOANGA CITY - To help local farmers take a step closer to cooperative membership, a Pre- Membership Seminar and Orientation was conducted on July 10, 2025, for members of the Taloptap Communal Integrated Irrigators Association. This activity was part of the requirements for joining the Costa Este IA Agriculture Cooperative and aimed to educate participants on the essence of cooperativism and their role in sustaining it.
Led by Institutional Development Officer and Cooperative Focal Person Mr. Femie Jhay Maatubang, with support from IDOs Ms. Darlyn Sanchez and Ms. Jessa Gaile Candia, the session covered cooperative principles, by-laws, member responsibilities, and the many benefits of being part of a registered cooperative, such as access to support programs, financial aid, and capacity-building initiatives. Participants shared that the orientation gave them a better grasp of how cooperatives can empower farmers like them. Many expressed appreciations for the cooperative's democratic setup and pledged to fulfill their responsibilities as active, responsible members working toward shared growth.