MAGSAYSAY, Occidental Mindoro – In line with the implementation of Republic Act No. 11524, otherwise known as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) MIMAROPA Extension Office, in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), successfully conducted the CFIDP Year 5 Implementation Training for Cooperatives and Coconut Farmers from June 29 to July 3, 2026, at Magsaysay Hillside Resort, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro.
The five-day activity forms part of the continuing implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), which seeks to strengthen coconut farmers’ organizations through cooperative registration, governance enhancement, institutional capacity building, and enterprise development.
The activity was conducted under the supervision of Regional Director Alberto A. Sabarias, who emphasized the importance of empowering coconut farmers through sustainable cooperative development. During the opening program, Director Sabarias welcomed the participants and encouraged them to maximize the opportunity to learn from the various training interventions offered under the CFIDP.
“Alam nating lahat na ang kooperatiba ay hindi lamang isang organisasyon. Ito ay instrumento para sa pagbabago ng buhay ng ating mga miyembro at ng ating mga komunidad. Kaya naman ang mga trainings na ito sa Pre-Registration, Internal Control, at Enterprise Development ay hindi lamang dagdag kaalaman, kundi mga konkretong hakbang upang maging mas matatag, mas maayos ang pamamahala, at mas handa ang ating mga kooperatiba sa anumang hamon. Hinihikayat ko ang bawat isa na maging bukas sa mga bagong kaalaman at iuwi ang inyong mga matututunan upang maisabuhay ito sa inyong mga kooperatiba. Sa CDA MIMAROPA, nananatili ang aming pangako na maging katuwang ninyo sa pagpapalakas ng ating mga kooperatiba at sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng ating mga magniniyog,” Director Sabarias said.
The activity formally commenced on June 29, 2026, with the conduct of the Pre-Registration Seminar (PRS) facilitated by Ms. Diana Aubrey Almazan, Cooperative Development Specialist II of the Registration Section. The seminar provided prospective coconut farmers’ associations with a comprehensive orientation on cooperative principles, legal requirements, documentary compliance, governance structures, and the registration procedures prescribed under the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008. Following the seminar, the Registration Section immediately provided technical assistance to the participating associations by reviewing documentary requirements and guiding them through the cooperative registration process.
From June 30 to July 1, Ms. Eva Loraine R. Cataje, Senior Cooperative Development Specialist of the Cooperative Research, Information and Training Section (CRITS), facilitated the Internal Control Training for Cooperatives. The training focused on strengthening cooperative governance through the establishment of effective internal control systems. Discussions covered risk management, segregation of duties, internal policies, financial accountability, safeguarding of cooperative assets, fraud prevention, and compliance with CDA regulations. Through practical workshops and case analyses, participants assessed their existing governance systems and developed strategies to improve transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency within their respective cooperatives.
On the afternoon of July 1 until July 2, the participants attended the Enterprise Development Training conducted by Mr. Jefhtee R. Panganiban, Senior Cooperative Development Specialist of the Cooperative Project Development and Assistance Section (CPDAS). The training focused on enhancing the entrepreneurial competencies of cooperative leaders through discussions on business opportunity identification, enterprise planning, project development, market assessment, and financial sustainability. Participants actively engaged in workshops that enabled them to formulate initial enterprise concepts and business development strategies responsive to the economic opportunities available in their respective communities.
The integrated implementation of the Pre-Registration Seminar, Internal Control Training, and Enterprise Development Training demonstrated CDA MIMAROPA’s holistic approach in cooperative development by combining organizational strengthening, governance enhancement, and enterprise capability building under a single capacity-building intervention. The activity provided participating coconut farmers’ organizations with practical knowledge and technical guidance that will support their transition into sustainable, resilient, and economically viable cooperatives.
On July 3, 2026, CDA MIMAROPA personnel conducted a comprehensive Post-Activity Assessment and Evaluation to review the overall implementation of the activity, consolidate participants’ outputs, document best practices, and identify recommendations for future CFIDP interventions. The evaluation highlighted the active participation of the attendees, the relevance of the training modules, and the effectiveness of the integrated approach in addressing the developmental needs of coconut farmers’ cooperatives.
The successful conduct of the CFIDP Year 5 Implementation Training in Occidental Mindoro further reinforced the partnership among the Cooperative Development Authority, the Philippine Coconut Authority, local government units, and the participating coconut farmers’ organizations in advancing the objectives of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan.
Through sustained capacity-building initiatives and continued technical assistance, CDA MIMAROPA remains committed to developing strong, resilient, compliant, and competitive cooperatives that will contribute to the long-term growth of the coconut industry and improve the socio-economic well-being of coconut farmers throughout the MIMAROPA Region.
