IN a momentous gathering at Malacañan Palace on Oct. 16, 2023, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. extended a warm welcome to approximately 300 cooperative leaders alongside officials and personnel from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), marking the grand occasion of the 2023 National Day of Cooperatives. This significant event coincided with the 108th year of the cooperative movement in the Philippines.

During this momentous occasion, Cooperative – National Confederation of Cooperatives Party list Representative Felimon Espares had the distinct honor of presenting to the President the Cooperative Sector's role in advancing a key agenda of national importance - food security.