Published on: July 2, 2026

By Maricris C. Gumabay

𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗢, 𝗡𝗨𝗘𝗩𝗔 𝗩𝗜𝗭𝗖𝗔𝗬𝗔 – In a significant step toward strengthening conflict resolution mechanisms within the cooperative sector, the 𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗖𝗢 𝗣𝗙𝗖𝗖𝗢, in partnership with the 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 (𝗖𝗗𝗔) 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗜, successfully conducted the 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀-𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 with the theme “𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻”, on 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭–𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, at the 𝗡𝗩 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝘄𝗮 𝗠𝗣𝗖𝗢 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 in 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗼, 𝗡𝘂𝗲𝘃𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝘇𝗰𝗮𝘆𝗮.

The activity was conducted pursuant to 𝗖𝗗𝗔 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗺 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗡𝗼. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯-𝟬𝟴, which institutionalizes the accreditation of conciliators-mediators within cooperatives to promote peaceful, efficient, and sustainable dispute resolution.

𝗘𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆-𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 representing 𝟮𝟲 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 took part in the intensive training. It demonstrated the growing commitment of the cooperative sector to fostering harmony and strengthening internal governance.

The program formally opened with a warm welcome from 𝗠𝗿. 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗼 𝗧. 𝗭𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗮, 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗖𝗢 𝗣𝗙𝗖𝗖𝗢, who expressed his appreciation to the participating cooperatives and the resource speakers from 𝗖𝗗𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗜. He emphasized the importance of equipping cooperative leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage disputes, preserve unity, and uphold the cooperative principles of mutual understanding and collaboration.

The accreditation program featured 𝘀𝗶𝘅 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 facilitated by 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 from the 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗜.

𝗠𝘀. 𝗜𝘃𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗔. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀, 𝗖𝗗𝗦 𝗜𝗜, delivered the opening modules by providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, including its legal basis, scope of application, the 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲, and matters not subject to mediation-conciliation under existing CDA policies. She discussed the essential roles of a mediator as a conflict manager, effective communicator, and process expert. Her presentation further explored practical mediation tools, approaches to conflict, the dynamics of power in mediation, the attributes of influence, and strategies for addressing power imbalances during the mediation process.

𝗠𝗿. 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗔𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗴, 𝗖𝗗𝗦 𝗜𝗜, shared his expertise on the 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, emphasizing the ethical standards, professional responsibilities, and accountability expected of accredited mediators and conciliators. He presented an insightful discussion on the 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁, helping participants distinguish between conflict and dispute while examining their underlying causes and effective management strategies.

Completing the series of lectures, 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗡𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗟. 𝗠𝗮𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲-𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗯𝘂, 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, provided an engaging discussion on the 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and the 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. She facilitated an interactive mediation simulation where participants applied the concepts they had learned in realistic conflict scenarios. Through this practical exercise, participants gained valuable hands-on experience and developed greater confidence in performing the role of a conciliator-mediator. She encouraged cooperative leaders to embrace mediation as an essential leadership skill in building stronger and more resilient cooperatives.

The participants were also taught about mediation in the cooperatives as directed by 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗜 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗗𝗔 𝗢𝗺𝗻𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲. There was also lecture on 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and an extensive discussion on the 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 of the cooperative.

The 𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 gave opportunities to participants actively engaged in discussions, shared experiences, and raised relevant questions, creating a dynamic learning environment that enriched their understanding of alternative dispute resolution. The interactive lectures, practical exercises, and real-world applications equipped participants with the competencies necessary to facilitate peaceful conflict resolution within their respective cooperatives. The successful conduct of the 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀-𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 reflects the unwavering commitment of 𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗖𝗢 𝗣𝗙𝗖𝗖𝗢 and the 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗜 to strengthening cooperative governance by promoting dialogue, collaboration, and peaceful dispute resolution. By empowering cooperative leaders with mediation and conciliation skills, the program contributes to building 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 that are better prepared to address internal conflicts while preserving unity and organizational growth.