TAGUIG CITY, Metro Manila—Recognizing the need to strengthen its employee cooperative, PNOC held the second session of its Entrepreneurial Insights series, titled “Back to Basics: Understanding the Cooperative Advantage in Public Service.” The session focused on enhancing employee understanding of cooperative governance, operational standards, and the role of cooperatives in fostering shared responsibility and institutional resilience.
The event featured Ms. Sally M. Sison-Triñanes, Supervising Cooperative Development Specialist from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). With over three decades of experience in cooperative management and technical advisory, Ms. Triñanes delivered a grounded and practical discussion on the legal foundations, management practices, and regulatory obligations that cooperatives must navigate to remain compliant and sustainable.
With an employee cooperative already in place, PNOC is now exploring ways to make it more responsive, dynamic, and aligned with its organizational goals. The session presented the cooperative not merely as a financial mechanism but as a platform for shared growth, inclusive participation, and employee empowerment.
Ms. Triñanes opened her talk by emphasizing the importance of developing “people capital” as the foundation of a successful cooperative. Citing a proverb, she said, “If you want to be prosperous for a year, grow grain. If you want to be prosperous for ten years, grow trees. But if you want to be prosperous for a lifetime, grow people.”
She also highlighted the need for effectiveness and efficiency in cooperative operations. According to her, cooperatives must reflect on whether their activities, such as regular meetings, transparent reporting, and ethical financial practices, are truly aligned with these standards.
Ms. Triñanes explained that a successful cooperative is built on trust and responsible risk management, supported by a strong commitment to member welfare and social impact. Equally important, she added, are the ethical foundations that shape everyday behavior—openness, honesty, social responsibility, and care for others—which sustain not only operations but the integrity of the cooperative as a whole.
In her final remarks, Ms. Triñanes encouraged all employees to engage actively in the cooperative as co-owners with shared governance responsibilities. She emphasized that participation in governance through membership, voting, and general assemblies is critical to maintaining transparency, accountability, and relevance.
Following the talk, Atty. Antonio Buenviaje, Department Manager of the Office of the General Counsel and acting chairman of PNOC’s employee cooperative, invited employees who have not yet joined to consider applying. Building on this session, he noted the value of new members in bringing fresh perspectives and sustaining the cooperative’s mission.
