THE Philippine cooperative movement is preparing to take a more active role in national politics, with the Philippine Chamber of Cooperatives (Co-op Chamber) planning to mobilize millions of cooperative members and explore the fielding of a pro-cooperative candidate in the 2028 senatorial elections.
In a recent press briefing, Co-op Chamber President Noel Raboy said the initiative is part of a broader effort to secure stronger representation for the country’s cooperative sector and push reforms addressing its long-standing policy, regulatory and tax concerns.
‘Peace, economic stability, and shared prosperity are built when everyday citizens have a genuine stake in nation building,’ said Raboy.
He explained the cooperative movement has about 13.6 million members and roughly 20,000 cooperatives nationwide, covering micro, small, medium and large organizations across various sectors.
Edwin Bustillos, secretary general of the Co-op Chamber, said the organization has already conducted consultations in 16 regions as it seeks to consolidate the cooperative sector behind a common political and legislative agenda. ‘We don’t want to be bystanders. We want to join the senatorial elections,’ Bustillos said, stressing that the cooperative sector needs direct representation in the Senate to advance policies affecting its members.
He said the chamber plans to begin reaching out to cooperatives that may be interested in the initiative in the coming months, with the goal of presenting a more concrete plan during National Cooperative Month in October.
Bustillos said the proposed political initiative would initially focus on the Senate rather than fielding candidates for the House of Representatives.
Raboy said a potential senatorial candidate would have to meet criteria established by the cooperative movement and demonstrate a track record and commitment to cooperative principles.
Raboy said the chamber also intends to work with existing party-list groups and legislators who support cooperative concerns, while exploring the creation of a national cooperative political organization that could eventually help unify the sector’s electoral efforts.
Bustillos said the cooperative leaders said the sector’s growing economic footprint has not been matched by adequate political representation.
Cooperatives operate across agriculture, finance, transport, fisheries, housing and other areas, with their membership cutting across farmers, fisherfolk, women, youth, indigenous communities, workers and informal-sector groups.
Bustillos said a senator coming from the cooperative movement could help elevate issues that may not receive sufficient attention in Congress and ensure that proposed legislation is developed in consultation with cooperatives themselves.
Bustillos pointed to the United Kingdom as an example of how cooperative organizations can develop significant political influence, citing the support of cooperatives for lawmakers and leaders who understand and practice cooperative principles.
Raboy said the proposed initiative, however, would not simply be an electoral campaign, the leaders stressed. It would seek to build a more organized ‘co-op vote’ based on the movement’s membership and network.
Raboy said the chamber said its consultations would help orient cooperative members on the sector’s policy, executive and legislative agenda, as well as the principles and values of cooperativism.
Bustillos acknowledged that turning the cooperative sector’s millions of members into a cohesive political force will be challenging. He added that the sector is highly diverse, with cooperatives varying considerably in size, industry and geographic reach. Moreover, he said the immediate task is therefore to consolidate the movement around common policy priorities rather than simply mobilizing members for an election.
Bustillos said the proposed 2028 initiative will involve consultations, political education and discussions with cooperative organizations nationwide.
He said the chamber also plans to identify cooperative leaders who could eventually qualify for political office based on their experience, track record and adherence to cooperative principles.
For the sector, Raboy said the goal is not merely to win an election but to establish a sustained political presence capable of influencing policies affecting cooperatives and their millions of members. ‘We are now starting the journey,’ the chamber said, describing the 2028 senatorial initiative as a first step toward giving the cooperative movement a stronger voice in national policymaking.
With millions of members and thousands of organizations already operating nationwide, Bustillos believes the movement has the numbers and economic reach to become a significant political constituency.