The Archdiocese of Manila has established a new ministry to help church workers and those belonging to the poorest sectors of society to uplift their livelihoods.

Cardinal Jose Advincula himself will lead the launching of the Ministry on Cooperatives and Social Enterprise Development (MCSED) at the Layforce Center inside the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City on April 29.

Fr. Anton Pascual, MCSED Minister, said that while there are many church-based cooperatives, “they still need to be strengthened by those who are in need in a sustainable, inclusive and resilient way”.

“While cooperatives are pro-profit, they are pro-people and pro-planet,” Pascual, who is also the board chairman of the Union of Catholic Church-based Cooperatives (UCC), said over Radio Veritas.

One of the immediate missions of MCSED is to gather and unite all church-based cooperatives in Metro Manila.

The ministry will also provide education and training to enable leaders and members of cooperatives to improve opportunities for all.

According to the Cooperative Development Authority, there are 18,000 cooperatives nationwide with some 11 million members.