THE search is on for outstanding cooperatives that have joined hands with local government units (LGUs) in pursuing social and economic development in communities.

Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. recently announced the holding of the second Coop-LGU Partnership Awards (CLPA) to encourage cooperatives and LGUs to be innovative and creative in promoting community building and local development.

he CLPA 2006 is a joint project of the Office of Senator Pimentel, UP National College Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG), PUP College of Cooperatives, Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

Awards will be given to the outstanding cooperatives in three categories – partnership with a provincial government, partnership with a city government and partnership with a municipal government.

“It seeks to recognize the achievements of cooperatives that have linked up with local governments in implementing projects that contributed to the improvement in the quality of life in local communities,” said Pimentel, principal author of the Local Government Code and Cooperative Code.

Deadline for submission of nomination is on August 31, 2006.

Nominated cooperatives will be screened by the National Steering Committee led by Pimentel, Landbank President Gilda Pico, CDA Chair Lecira Juarez, UP President Emerlinda Roman, ULAP President Gov. Erico Aumentado, and Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication.

Five outstanding cooperatives for each category will receive a cash grant of P50,000 and a plaque of recognition. From among the 15 finalists , three winners of the Most Outstanding Cooperative award will be selected, to receive a cash prize of P100,000 and a plaque of recognition.

For inquiries regarding the award, the public may log on to the following websites:
www.nenepimentel.org , www.landbank.com , www.ulap.egov.ph , www.cda.gov.ph