The Cooperative Development Authority Region 1 conducted a virtual Youth Forum called KPOP to encourage entrepreneurship and cooperative membership among youth. Over 600 students and cooperative members participated. The forum featured presentations on scholarship and youth programs from government agencies and cooperatives. It aimed to spark youth interest in entrepreneurship and inform them about opportunities in technical education and cooperative membership. Participants engaged in a quiz with cellphone load prizes. Resource speakers and partner organizations received certificates of appreciation for supporting the initiative.

1. CDA R1 conducts YOUTH FORUM
DUBBED AS KPOP: Kooperatiba para sa Kabataan: Programa
at Oportunidad na Pangkabuhayan
The Cooperative DevelopmentAuthority Region1 ExtensionOffice (CDA R1 EO) reachout to the young
people through the conduct of the virtual Youth Forum dubbed as KPOP: Kooperatiba para sa Kabataan:
Programa at Oportunidad na Pangkabuhayan on August 27, 2021. The activity was conducted in
collaboration with partners from the National Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units
(LGUs), Private Organizations (POs), and Cooperatives. The goals ofthe forum are the following: To stir the
interestof youth participants to become entrepreneurs; To provide the youth access to scholarship programs
ofTESDA and other NGAs offering similar scholarship programs; and To encourage the youth entrepreneurs
to organize themselves into cooperatives
The Keynote Speaker was Mr. John Ernesto D.Sagum, one of the Board of Directors of
Mangabul Seed Growers Marketing Cooperative shared his experience in the ENACTUS
organization and how it changed him to be better. He also shared authentic stories with the youth,
and he emphasized the value of listening and the value of learning.
The CDA Chairman, USEC. Joseph B. Encabo graced this virtual activity and expressed his
gratitude, appreciation, and full support to the CDA Region 1 family to gather the youth sector and
conduct this forum in a timely manner. Likewise, he expressed appreciation to our partner
agencies and cooperatives for sharing the various programs and services that the youth could
avail, which leads to empowering and engaging the youth sector.
The event's highlights are the dissemination of different youth programs and services of DTI,
TESDA, DOLE, ACPC, CDA, and Cooperatives. Invited cooperatives, namely the Sta. Cruz
Savings and Development Cooperative, Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives, both from
Ilocos Sur and La Union Multi-Purpose Cooperative of the province of La Union, to showcasealso
their programs and services for the youth. Gathered virtually and joined in this activity via zoom
channel and Facebook live-streamed CDA Regional Office 1 was around 600 participants from
different schools/universities, cooperatives, partners from NGAs, LGUs, and CDA personnel.
Josef Eugene D. Ruedas, a grade 3 student, and a member of two laboratory cooperatives,led the
opening prayer during the opening program. At the same time, Director Josefina B. Bitonio delivered her
Opening Message and the rationale of the KPOP program.

2. In the event, the organizers initiated the game portion wherein the participants will answer the questions
related to the activity and the topics presented. The reward is a cellphone load. There were ten winners of
One Hundred Pesos worth of cellphone load.
Before the program ends, the CDA R1 EO awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to the Resource
speakers for their full support and active involvement in implementing the K-POP activity.
Finally, Acting Assistant Regional Director Edilberto G. Unson delivered his closing message, and the
activity was very fruitful and productive. (by Jacqueline L. De Leon, Sr. CDS).