UPLB ICOPED holds first Cooperative Enterprise Development Training Open to All Cooperative Stakeholders

The Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development, College of Economics and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños held its Cooperative Enterprise Development Training for cooperative stakeholders from different sectors on September 22-23, 2025 at the ICOPED Auditorium, CEM, UPLB. 

The training was participated by 22 individuals representing primary and secondary cooperatives, academic institutions, and government agencies. To encourage collaboration and exchange of ideas, participants were organized into groups composed of at least one cooperative and representatives per sector. 

The CED Training aimed to strengthen stakeholders’ knowledge and skills in cooperative enterprise planning, an essential component for ensuring competitiveness and sustainability of cooperatives in today’s dynamic business environment. By the end of the course, they were expected to develop a capsule enterprise development plan, applying the concepts and strategies they had learned throughout the sessions. 

The first module was discussed by Dr. Karen Q. Custodio, ICOPED’s Director and Associate Professor. The topic covered the introduction to cooperative enterprise development, identifying problems/challenges, then making a business model canvas out of the enterprise identified based on the issues. 

ICOPED Assistant Professor Jan Danica S. Asma served as the resource speaker for the 2nd module, which covered the strategic and management plans. She discussed the importance of a strategic mindset in developing an enterprise. 

On the second day, the marketing plan was discussed by Assistant Professor Phoebe Jane D. Williams from the Department of Agribusiness Management and Enterpreneurship (DAME), CEM. The marketing plan was followed by a discussion on financial and operational plans led by Mr. Paul Kenneth Maghirang, University Researcher from ICOPED. 

The training is a key initiative of ICOPED toward advancing the knowledge and skills of stakeholders from cooperatives and support institutions in cooperative enterprise planning. It also underscores ICOPED’s dedication to promoting knowledge-based and practice-oriented learning opportunities for cooperative stakeholders. 

In attendance were representatives from: 

Primary Cooperatives:

• Pinagbuklod Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  
• Laguna Prime Multipurpose Cooperative
  
• Mariposa Multi Purpose Cooperative
  
• Limcoma Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  
• Piña Taysan Agriculture Cooperative (PiTAC)
  
• Limcoma Multi-Purpose Cooperative
  

Secondary Cooperatives:

• Cooperative Union Of Laguna
  
• Cooperative Union of Batangas
  

Academe: 

• University of Northern Philippines
  
• Ilocos Sur Community College
  
• Sorsogon State University
  
• West Visayas State University
  
• Agricultural Systems Institute, CAFS, UPLB
  

Government: 

• LGU Catbalogan - City Cooperatives Development Office
  
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