CEBU CITY– From building resilient members to empowering grassroots communities, CLIMBS marks a significant milestone in its cooperative journey as it celebrates its 53rd General Assembly, with the theme “Empowering Communities and Advancing Sustainability” which will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cebu City on April 28-29, 2025.

Reiterating the International Cooperative Alliance’s universal cooperative values and principle # 5 of Education, Training, and Information, the event starts with an Educational Forum in which with a theme, “Identity, Impact, Innovation: Cooperatives-Now and the Future” which invites several leaders from local government units, non-profit organizations, and international partners to provide various insights about the role of cooperatives in nation-building and its current impact in climate finance, economic development, and social welfare.

Key representatives such as the honorable presence of Sen. Win Gatchalian, officials and directors from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Energy (DOE), the Insurance Commission, and the Cooperative Development Authority extended their messages of support and commendation—recognizing CLIMBS as a leading example of a functional cooperative model that is people-centered, community-driven, and guided by the universal core values.

This 2025, as the United Nations marks the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) with the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” serving as a living reminder in exploring new directions and redefining the role of cooperatives in nation-building, social welfare, and economic progress.

Values-Driven, People-Focused, Community-Empowered

CLIMBS’ vision is deeply rooted in the belief that effective climate action must be a collaborative approach. This means placing the needs, knowledge, and participation of local communities at the forefront of climate adaptation and sustainable development efforts. The organization recognizes that climate change impacts are experienced most acutely at the local level, and thus solutions must be co-designed with those directly affected.

This strategy is in line with global initiatives like the United Nations’ climate adaptation agenda, which highlights the importance of participatory methods and local community involvement in building resilience and driving systemic change. By engaging a wide range of stakeholders—from government bodies to grassroots organizations—CLIMBS promotes climate solutions that are inclusive, fair, and rooted in the lived experiences of its members. One innovative offering, the Weather Protect Insurance, a parametric insurance of climate smart agriculture (CSA) advisories, has expanded its impact by serving not only the Philippine agricultural sector but also integrating a gender-responsive lens.

Through the We Protect Her (WPH) coverage, the product extends support to women and girls who are particularly vulnerable to climate-related challenges such as mental health issues, displacement, and the likes.