BAUANG, LA UNION | 17 August 2026 — Recognizing the vital role of cooperatives in providing financial products and services to their members and communities, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Region I Extension Office conducted an Orientation on Republic Act No. 11765, otherwise known as the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (FCPA), and Other Related CDA Issuances on 17 August 2026 at the BNCS Gymnasium, Central East, Bauang, La Union.
The activity brought together 101 cooperative officers, providing them with an avenue to deepen their understanding of financial consumer protection, digital financial literacy, and the compliance requirements applicable to cooperatives under the FCPA and relevant CDA issuances.
The activity was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Local Government Unit of Bauang, La Union; La Union Provincial Cooperative Union; ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative – San Fernando Branch; and BSP North Luzon Regional Office demonstrating the importance of partnership among government institutions, cooperative organizations, and other stakeholders in promoting responsible and consumer-oriented financial services.
The program formally commenced with the Welcome Message of Ms. Mercedes S. Tejada, Municipal Cooperative Development Officer of Bauang, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the significance of the activity to the local cooperative sector.
A Message of Support from the La Union Provincial Cooperative Union followed, underscoring the cooperative movement’s continuing commitment to initiatives that promote the welfare and protection of cooperative members.
Also extending support to the activity was Ms. Annabelle P. Gutierrez, Branch Head of ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative – San Fernando Branch.
Representing Regional Director Atty. Frederick Joe N. Robles, Mr. Edilberto G. Unson delivered a message emphasizing the importance of strengthening cooperative compliance and ensuring that financial consumer protection mechanisms are effectively integrated into cooperative operations.
The Provincial Cooperative Development Office, through Ms. Flor De Luz L. Magpili, likewise manifested its support for the undertaking. The activity was further supported by Ms. Connie De Guzman – Provincial Cooperative Development Specialist (PCDS), Mr. Marwin Peralta – CDS II, and Ms. Christine Joy Mendoza – CDS II.
Providing the participants with a clear context for the activity, Ms. Rocelyn C. Banayat, CDS II, Credit Surety Fund Section (CSFS) delivered the walk-through of the rationale, emphasizing the need for cooperatives to understand not only the provisions of financial consumer protection laws and regulations but also their practical application within cooperative operations.
The orientation also featured a session on Digital Financial Literacy facilitated by Mr. Jim Ian A. Bautista, Senior Research Specialist of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) North Luzon Regional Office.
The session provided participants with relevant knowledge on the responsible and secure use of digital financial services. It highlighted the importance of making informed decisions when using digital financial products and services, particularly in an increasingly digital financial environment.
The discussion also reinforced the importance of protecting personal and financial information and exercising caution when engaging in digital transactions. Such knowledge is particularly relevant to cooperative officers who are in a position to guide and assist members in navigating financial products and services.
A major component of the activity was the Orientation on Republic Act No. 11765 or the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, facilitated by Ms. Arlenne C. Espinoza, Acting Senior Cooperative Development Specialist of the CSF Section.
The session provided cooperative officers with a better understanding of the importance of financial consumer protection and the responsibilities of financial service providers in ensuring that consumers are adequately informed, treated fairly, and provided with appropriate mechanisms for addressing their concerns.
The discussion reinforced key principles of financial consumer protection, including disclosure and transparency, protection of client information, fair treatment, and effective recourse. These principles are particularly relevant to cooperatives engaged in providing financial products and services to their members.
Giving particular emphasis to the activity was the Orientation on Memorandum Circular No. 2025-08, or the Guidelines on the Establishment of the Financial Consumer Protection Assistance Management System (FCPAMS) by the CDA Regulated Entities (CDAREs), facilitated by Ms. Rocelyn C. Banayat.
The session highlighted the importance of establishing and operationalizing mechanisms within cooperatives that will enable them to appropriately receive, manage, and resolve financial consumer concerns and complaints.
The discussion was especially relevant in view of the CDA Region I Extension Office advisory reminding CDAREs of their obligation to establish their respective FCPAMS pursuant to RA No. 11765, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and MC No. 2025-08.
The advisory further identifies documentary evidence that may demonstrate compliance, including a Board Resolution and/or appropriate documents evidencing the creation or designation of a Consumer Assistance Team (CAT), approval and adoption of Consumer Assistance Policies and Procedures, and other supporting documents demonstrating compliance with the requirements for the establishment of FCPAMS.
It also emphasizes that the FCPAMS should not merely exist as a compliance document but should be duly integrated into the cooperative’s existing systems, policies, and procedures for handling and resolving financial consumer concerns and complaints.
This made the FCPAMS discussion a particularly significant part of the activity, as cooperative officers were given a clearer appreciation of how financial consumer protection can be translated into concrete organizational policies, procedures, and mechanisms.
Beyond compliance, the orientation emphasized a broader objective: building a culture of financial consumer protection within the cooperative sector.
The activity also highlighted the value of multi-sectoral collaboration. The partnership among the CDA Region I Extension Office, the LGU of Bauang, the La Union Provincial Cooperative Union, ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative, the Provincial Cooperative Development Office, and the BSP North Luzon Regional Office provided a venue for cooperative officers to gain perspectives from different institutions working toward a common objective – stronger financial consumer protection and better-informed cooperative members.
As cooperatives continue to evolve as providers of financial products and services, initiatives such as this orientation help ensure that compliance with RA No. 11765 and relevant CDA issuances is translated into meaningful practices at the cooperative level.
Ultimately, the activity served as a reminder that financial consumer protection is not simply a regulatory obligation, it is an essential part of responsible, transparent, and member-centered cooperative governance.
Prepared by:
Rocelyn C. Banayat
CDS II
