DAVAO CITY- Akin to a movie where a party would physically bring bundles of money in a room, the said movie scene turned into reality when a party in a CDA Dialogue proceeding actually turned-over bundles of money to the officers of a cooperative.

Through the dialogue proceedings of the CDA Omnibus Rules of Procedures, actual physical turn-over of cooperative funds was facilitated by the CDA Davao Legal Unit after a successful settlement agreement was reached between the disputants of a cooperative on April 22, 2024 held at the CDA Hearing Room, CDA Building, Friendship Road, SPMC Compound, Davao City.

The said cooperative dispute allegedly has been on-going for almost a year after a cooperative officer allegedly failed to return the money of a cooperative when demanded by the board of directors.

But through the mediation process of the dialogue proceeding, the disputants were able to acknowledge that a prolonged litigation in court would only do more harm than good in maintaining the relationship of the members of the cooperative.

Hence, all the disputants set aside their differences and entered into a settlement agreement to have the money of the cooperative returned to the board of directors.

Under Rule III, Article II of the CDA Omnibus Rules of Procedures, once the parties enter into a dialogue, the CDA acquires exclusive jurisdiction over the case to the exclusion of other quasi-judicial entities, government instrumentalities, and local government units, among others.

As of writing, this is the third successful settlement agreement facilitated by the CDA Davao Legal Unit involving the return of cooperative money to the Board of Directors/ cooperative member.