CDA Region XII EO

LOCATION ADDRESS

CHRLDC Building, Apo Sandawa Phase III, Kidapawan City, 9400, Cotabato,
Kidapawan - Singao Rd, Kidapawan City, Cotabato

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CDA XII conducts an Open Forum on Reiteration of the BLGF Memo Circular

CDA XII conducts an Open Forum on Reiteration of the BLGF Memo Circular

General Santos City- The CDA XII has conducted an Open Forum on the Reiteration of BLGF Memorandum Circular No. 31-2009 regarding Cooperative Exemptions from Local Taxes, Fees, and Charges held on April 8, 2025, at Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City. The event brought together 90 key stakeholders from across the SOCCSKSARGEN region, including Municipal Treasurers, Municipal Assessors, Business Permit and Licensing Officers, Provincial and Municipal Cooperative Development Officers, MCDC Chairpersons, and cooperative representatives creating a comprehensive dialogue on the implementation of cooperative tax exemptions. The activity was held in collaboration with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), whose valuable support played a key role in making the forum possible. The forum aimed to explain and strengthen awareness of the guidelines set under BLGF Memorandum Circular No. 31-2009, which outlines the applicable tax exemptions, fees, and charges for registered cooperatives.

During the event, CDA Acting RD, Juriski B. Mangelen, emphasized cooperatives’ vital role in local economic development and the importance of ensuring they receive their tax exemptions to maximize their community impact. She highlighted that a proper understanding of the memorandum circular would benefit both cooperatives and local government units through standardized implementation practices.

A panel discussion with resource persons: Jonathan B. Susvilla of the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) XII; Kimberly T. Tuanzon of DILG XII,  and Atty. Gil Ray V. Ontal, of CDA Region XII, was featured to address questions on the interpretation and application of the memorandum circular, guiding to ensure consistent implementation across local government units in the region.

Meanwhile, the activity provided an opportunity for local government units and cooperative stakeholders to align their practices with national policy directives and address any implementation challenges that have emerged since the original issuance of the memorandum circular.