Photo Release

2016 VILLAR SIPAG AWARDS: WINNERS. Representatives of the 20 winning cooperatives happily posed for a photo shoot with the Villar family composed of (from L-R) – DIWA Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar and DPWH Sec. Mark Villar and their baby, Senator Cynthia A. Villar, ex-Senate President Manny Villar, Camille Villar and Paolo Villar during the awarding ceremonies held at Villar SIPAG in Las Pinas City yesterday. Each winner in the 2016 Villar SIPAG Awards received from the Villars a Plaque of Appreciation and P250,000 cash which they can use to start a new business or expand existing projects. The cooperatives were recognized for their significant contributions in helping reduce poverty in their communities. The winners are the following:

STANDING: Vidal Luna(4th from left) - Tago Agro-Industrial Development Coop in Surigao del Sur; Rodolfo A. Batoy - Ictus Premier Multipurpose Coop in South Cotabato; Sabiniano Cantay (Special Award for being the most promising community enterprise) - United Workers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multipurpose Coop, Isabela City, Basilan; Remelita Valiente - Olongapo Multipurpose Coop, Olongapo; Elicerio P. Jacobe Jr. - Most Holy Rosary Multipurpose Coop, Rizal; and Marilou R. Almario – Iwahori Multipurpose Coop, Bataan;

SITTING: Rene B. Hermo - Gubat St. Anthony Coop, Sorsogon; Ma. Theresa A. Geniston - Fatima Multipurpose Coop in Leyte; Christie C. Angob – Salay Hand-made in Misamis Oriental; Dr. Manuel V. Viloria - Saint Catherine's Parish Multipurpose Coop, Nueva Viscaya; Eduardo Q. Guerin - Claveria Grassroots Multipurpose Coop, Cagayan; Arcadio S. Sabella - Maragusan Growers Multipurpose Coop in Compostela Valley; Maria Marlene D. Ladonga – Cebu People’s Multipurpose Coop; Roberto C. Mascarina – Barangka Credit Coop; Reynaldo S. Luna - Quezon Public School Teachers and Employees Credit Coop, Quezon; Maria Cristina B. Naigan – St. Martin of Tours Credit and Development Coop, Bocaue Bulacan; Danilo G. Rivera – Bagong Barrio Multipurpose Coop, Pandi Bulacan; Magdalena C. Bondoc – Asscom Multipurpose Coop, Pampanga; Emma C. Leona – Holycross Savings and Credit Coop, Valenzuela; and William E. Ablong – DCCCO Multipurpose Coop, Dumaguete;