City of San Fernando, Pampanga – Twelve (12) Cooperatives Development Specialists (CDSs) II attended the 2-day Training of Trainers (ToT) conducted by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Region III Extension Office on January 11-12, 2023. The activity aims to upgrade the knowledge, skills and values of the participants to efficiently facilitate Pre-Registration Seminar (PRS) for prospective members of would-be primary cooperatives.
In his welcome message during the first day of the TOT, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Regional Director, Mr. Nelson D. Evangelista underscored the crucial role of CDA in the promotion and development of cooperatives for national economic progress, hence, the Authority’s personnel must perceive their job not as a mere profession but a sacred vocation.
“Learning does not stop in the four corners of this room”, OIC Director Evangelista said. He furthered that skills, access to production and encouragement to own a business enterprise are three major things that CDA personnel should impart to the cooperative members.
Also, in order to improve the participants’ skill in public speaking, OIC Director Nelson D. Evangelista shared nine tips to be an effective speaker: 1) Breathe; 2) Admit Nervousness; 3) Use minimal notes; 4) Become comfortable with “The Pause”; 5) Be aware of your hand gestures; 6) Move around some, but not too much; 7) Incorporate visual prompts; 8) Practice, practice, practice, then practice some more; and 9) Record yourself speaking.
Meanwhile, the reasons for PRS and why cooperative, was expounded by Mr. Raul S. Encarnacion, Senior CDS and Head of the Cooperative Project Development Assistance Section (CPDAS). The legal bases such as the Article 12, Section 15, of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, RA 6938, RA 6939, RA 11364, and RA 9520, were firstly discussed. Secondly, the reasons for the conduct of PRS were elaborated. Followed next is the definition of a cooperative, cooperative values, seven (7) cooperative principles, nature and characteristics of cooperatives, cooperative practices, types of cooperative, and common bond of membership.
The training continued with the discussion on organizational and functional structure of cooperatives, facilitated by Mr. Ralph Rendel P. Toledo, CDS II of the Supervision and Examination Section (SES). The composition, exclusive powers, meeting of the General Assembly, kinds, requirements, duties and rights of a member, and the Board of Directors were also tackled. Moreover, computation of mandatory allocation and distribution of net surplus and other finance-related matters were discussed by the resource person.
Conclusively, the first day of TOT ended with the discussion on the organization and registration of cooperatives in the Electronic Cooperative Registration Information System (e-CoopRIS), facilitated by Ms. Vernilyn Fe C. Parentila, CDS II of the Registration Section.
The second day of TOT was allotted for the presentation of topics assigned to participants. OIC Regional Director, Mr. Nelson D. Evangelista, Senior Cooperatives Development Specialists, Mr. Raul S. Encarnacion, Ms. Carolina M. Miguel, Ms. Jeline D. Reyes, and Ms. Yolanda F. Ciriaco served as critiques.
Fruitfully, the CDSs II are now equipped and ready to conduct PRS for the prospective cooperatives, bound with eagerness to continuously contribute to the steadfast reputation of CDA and in promoting the significance of education in the development of cooperatives and economic progress of the nation. Surely, the knowledge, skills and values were transmitted and that the CDSs II acquired the much needed power. Indeed, knowledge is power!
#TOT2023 #KnowledgeisPower #CDAR3EO
Prepared by: BRIAN JOHN C. MENDOZA, CDS II
