“Kooperatiba Katuwang ng Agrikultura tungo sa Buhay na Masagana”
To kick off the cooperative year 2021, a total of 153 Agriculture, Agrarian, Aquaculture, Farmers, Dairy and Fisher Folk Cooperative officers, members and representatives across Region XI and XII convened on January 25, 2021 thru a Zoom Meeting to participate in the consultation forum.
Dir. Elma R. Oguis, CSEE, Regional Director of CDA Regional Office XI gave her warm welcome and presented the Rationale of the forum. Dir. Oguis also emphasized that the forum’s objective is to encourage the sector to be involved in the creation, organization and recognition of RCO, SAO and NAC which shall function as the overall consultative and coordinating body of the CDA; to discuss the CDA programs and projects and to gather inputs from participants and clarify issues related to this specific cluster, as provided in RA 11364.
The sectoral congress drawn their attention as Hon. Virgilio R. Lazaga, M.D., CDA Assistant Secretary, Board Member III and Head of Agriculture, Agrarian, Aquaculture, Farmers, Dairy and Fisher Folk Cluster presented the latest information and issuances and the salient features and provisions of the RA 11364 “An Act Reorganizing and Strengthening the Cooperative Development Authority, repealing for The Purpose Republic Act No. 6939, Creating The Cooperative Development Authority “otherwise known as “Cooperative Development Authority Charter of 2019”.
The Status of Agriculture Cooperative in the Philippines as of December, 2019 was presented by Administrator Ray R. Elevazo, CESE, MNSA. He presented the data and statistics on the cooperatives engaged in Agriculture which include the volume of business, total assets, number of coop members, products and commodities in Region XI and XII.
Ms. Cherry C. Reyes, Division Chief, CPDAD, CDA Head Office also presented the CDA Programs and Projects for the Agriculture sector. The CDA Programs for Agriculture includes the Cooperative supply and value-chain programs, Financial Inclusion through cooperatives (FIT-COOP), Cooperative Business Matching Information System (CBMIS), Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program, Koop Kapatid Program and the New Coop-Sustainable Enterprise Development (Coop-Seed) Program. Ms. Reyes also presented the Roles and Functions of CDA and the assistance for the sector.
Atty. Elizabeth O. Batonan, CPA, Director, Legal and Registration Department presented the Orientation on the Organization and Recognition of National Alliance of Cooperative (NAC), Sectors; Apex Organizations (SAOs) and Regional Clustered Organizations (RCOs). Also presented are the guidelines governing the organization and recognition, powers, functions and responsibilities, purpose, qualifications, composition, requirements as well as its prohibitions and sanctions.
During the forum, the participants deliberated on the problems, issues, needs and concerns hounding the coop sector. The resource speakers together with Supervising CDS, CDA Region XI Office, Mr. Antonio C. Escobar, the moderator of the open forum, responded to the queries from the participants. Some of the concerns and proposals include:
1. What is the stand of DA and CDA with regards to Land conversion to real-estate business?
2. Why is BARMM Region not included in the presentations of data and statistics?
3. What will be the status of cooperatives registered with CDA Region 12 but now included in the BARMM Region?
4. Can we start the Election after the forum?
5. What is the update regarding the MC on the conduct of General Assembly Meeting this year?
6. What is the advantage of the Party-list in the coop sector?
PROPOSAL:
1. To have representatives from small coops to address the problems and concerns of the micro coops.
The forum was concluded with a message from Dir. Aminoden A. Elias, Director, CDA Regional Office XII. Dir. Elias stated that with the reality and current conditions of the country as a whole, it is important that we understand our new direction to a strengthened sector.
Prepared by:
JEZZA LHOR V. UTLANG
CDS I, CDA Regional Office XII
