BUTUAN CITY, CARAGA — To guide medium and large cooperatives across the region, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Regional XIII – Extension Office partnered with the Agusan del Sur Active Federation of Credit Cooperatives (ADSAFCC) to conduct a series of regional orientations. This joint caravan aimed to explain Republic Act No. 11765, or the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (FCPA), and implement the Financial Consumer Protection Assistance Management System (FCPAMS) based on Memorandum Circular No. 2025-08.

Experts from the CDA Central Office’s Credit Surety Funds Service facilitated the discussions to ensure attendees understood the new rules. Ms. Josie L. Villaver, Supervising Cooperative Development Specialist (CDS), and Mr. Ian Dave U. Alindajao, Senior CDS, served as the resource speakers.

The event gathered Board of Directors, Committee Members, and Key Managers from medium and large cooperatives in Caraga. Municipal and City Cooperative Development Officers (MCDOs/CCDOs) also attended the sessions. Organizers noted that including local CDOs is an important step to bring compliance assistance, monitoring, and advisory support directly to the cities and municipalities.

The orientation was divided into two main parts to help cooperatives follow the new regulations:

Part 1: Understanding the FCPA Law and Core Responsibilities

The Central Office speakers explained the rules of RA 11765 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations under MC No. 2023-14. These policies apply to all cooperatives offering credit and lending services, except insurance cooperatives and cooperative banks.

The discussion reminded the Board of Directors of their legal duty to set up a Consumer Protection Risk Management System (CPRMS) to keep members safe from financial risks. The speakers focused heavily on protecting the “Big Five” basic rights of financial consumers:

• Equitable and Fair Treatment
• Disclosure and Transparency
• Protection of Consumer Assets Against Fraud and Misuse
• Timely Handling and Redress of Complaints
• Data Privacy and Protection

Part 2: Putting the FCPAMS into Action

The second half of the workshop guided attendees on how to set up the FCPAMS, which serves as a free and accessible initial process for members who want to file complaints. The speakers explained the requirements, stating that cooperatives must:

• Create an independent Consumer Assistance Team (CAT) to handle concerns.
• Follow strict timelines to resolve simple and complex complaints.
• Make sure CAT personnel have no conflict of interest.
• Maintain an organized Complaints Database and a clear feedback process.
• Adopt a Board-approved Manual of Consumer Assistance Policies and Procedures.

Building Trust: A Mutual Benefit for Members and Cooperatives

Beyond meeting government standards, the orientation explained that both parties benefit from financial consumer protection. While member-consumers gain protected rights and a clear process for their complaints, the cooperatives also gain clear advantages.

When cooperatives practice transparency and set up honest systems to handle complaints, they build trust with their members. This honesty protects cooperatives from risks, maintains their good reputation, and keeps members loyal—showing that fair treatment is key to long-term cooperative success.

Regional Attendance

The high number of attendees across the caravan showed the cooperative sector’s readiness to apply these rules:

• August 4, 2026 (Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur): Held at the Pera MPC Building in Brgy. 2, San Francisco, this session brought together 91 participants from 45 cooperatives, including local development officers.
• August 5, 2026 (Butuan City / Agusan del Norte & Surigao del Norte): Hosted at the Amarah Hotel in Butuan City, with 61 participants from 26 cooperatives.
• August 5, 2026 (Province of Dinagat Islands): Conducted at the Provincial Guest Center in Cuarinta, San Jose, Dinagat Islands, gathering 66 participants representing 37 cooperatives. This specific event was made possible through a partnership with the Provincial Cooperative Development Office (PCDO) – Province of Dinagat Islands, ensuring local support reaches the island’s cooperatives.

This regional effort is a major milestone in localizing financial consumer justice. By setting up working systems to handle complaints internally, the CDA Regional XIII – Extension Office and its local government partners ensure that every cooperative member in Caraga is heard, protected, and treated fairly.